FIERCER EVERY HOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1943, Page 3

FIERCER EVERY HOUR

ASSAULT ON AXIS DEFENCES IN TUNISIA Allied Armies Making Steady Progress In All Sectors IMPORTANT GAINS BY FRENCH FORCES OFFICIAL PARTICULARS OF ENEMY LOSSES IN MEN AND MATERIAL LONDON, April 26. Allied headquarters in North Africa have given figures of the toll taken of Axis forces in that area since the begin g ° f from January 1 to April 15, the Axis had lost 66,000 men killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Iri the same period 250 tanks had been captured or destroyed and more than ft,ooo planes and 3,000 vehicles had been accounted foi. At sea the Axis lost 34 ships sunk, 53 severely damaged and 5 “""figure! "r the period ending eleven days ago and since then some of the heaviest fighting in Africa taken place, in which it is known that the Axis forces have lost Today’s news indicates that the battle is becoming fiercer every honr, as the Allied troops hack their way into the Axis defences Official news states that yesterday fieice fighti g went on aw the whole front. The enemy is doing every lung he can to hold his ground, but m all sectors the Allied tioops are continuing their steady progress. The French have advanced in the direction of Pont du Fans. A French communique broadcast by the Algiers radio> say French forces have followed up the capture of Jchel Mansour and are now only 3| miles from the plains which lead to Pont du Fahs. They achieved this by advancing 2| miles against Heaiy fighting 1 has again taken place on the , sec f The enemy has now been forced back some way into the defe sive system of his Tunisian bridgehead. It is a question as to how long the enemy can stand the strain of P r attacks. The First Army has thrust forward about 10 nnleJ in two days. In these two days British infantry and guns have smashed their way into one of the strongest prepared Ax s positions in Tunisia. The Eighth Army is still pegging away solidly against strong German opposition in the south. Jt has captured Jebel Teboura, a strongly defended height thiee miles north-west of Enfidaville.