ENEMY DEFENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1943, Page 3

ENEMY DEFENCES

AND ALLIED ATTACKING LINES THE APPROACHES TO TUNIS. EIGHTH ARMY CLEARING MINES & TRAPS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) . RUGBY, April 14. The new German-Italian prepared positions, with which the Eighth Army is in contact, are 25 miles north of Sousse and Kairouan and 50 ’ miles south of Tunis. The line stretches 32 miles from Enfidaville, west and slightly south to Jebel Bou Hodjar. Beyond that is a 2,000 feet ridge, which is on the edge of the coastal plain. French forces have been advancing through hill country about 15 miles north-east of Ousseltia. The Allied line may thus be presumed to

run, generally, in a north-westerly direction from Jebel Bou Hodjar towards Bou Arada, whence the First Army has a long line running north to Medjez El Bab. Behind the Eighth Army’s new front the troops are busy clearing the usual minefields and booby traps. In the north, further progress has been made north-west of Medjez El Bab and along the road north-east of Beja, where the Allies are pressing forward about three miles south-west of Sidi Nsir. Heavy night attacks were made on the Megrine aerodrome, at Tunis, by Bisleys and Wellingtons. By day Mitchells, escorted by Spitfires and Hurricanes, attacked the El Aouina aerodrome, south of Tunis.