STEADY INCREASE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1943, Page 4

STEADY INCREASE

IN PRESSURE ON AXIS IN TUNISIA HARD FIGHTING IN NORTH. IMPROVEMENT IN BRITISH COMMUNICATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, April 13. Three Allied armies are continuing to increase their pressure on the forces of Rommel and Von Arnim, penned in North-Eastern Tunisia. The Columbia Broadcasting System’s Algiers correspondent says the Eighth Army is now 28 miles north-west of Sousse and about 50 miles from Tunis as the crow flies, but further by winding roads. The British yesterday struck at German prepared positions west of Enfidaville. There is no confirmation yet of Enfidaville having fallen. The front now appears to run from Enfidaville south-west across the plain to the mountains, where the French are making rapid progress. The Algiers radio announced that the Germans have abandoned Jebel Mansour, 14 miles south-west of Pont du Fahs. The radio said: “Under pressure from French troops in the central sector, who had mopped up the Pichon heights, the Germans and Italians were forced to abandon Jebel Mansour. This hill gives our troops a full view down the Ouedel Kebir Valley and the Pont du Fahs region.” Von Arnim’s forces took Jebel Mansour, which was then described as Hill 648, on February 6, a few hours after it had been captured by the British, following a strong attack. Reuter's correspondent with the First Army says the First Army is fighting bitterly for Sidi Nsir railway station. British infantry are at present battling three miles south-west of the station. In an earlier despatch the correspondent referred to a straightening of the British line north-west of Medjez el Bab, with small but hard-fought engagements in the direction of Sidi Nsir, as then in its final stages. British troops have now reached the position they occupied before Von Arnim’s push of a few weeks ago, the Reuter correspondent adds. The action at present in progress is the third in two and a half weeks in which the enemy has been sent scurrying back along a line running north-west of the area north of Medjez el Bab, through Sidi Nsir and east of Sed Jenane to the sea. The intensity of the actions leaves no doubt that the Germans realise the seriousness of their general position. The whole road from Tabarca, through Djebel Abiod and Ouedzarga to Medjez el Bab is now free for the transit of British troops and supplies. It had been menaced by Axis fire from three points until the last Allied action tonight.