LONGSTOP HILL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1943, Page 3

LONGSTOP HILL

COMPLETELY IN ALLIIED HANDS

' BATTLE TAKING EXPECTED

UUUFiOE. GERMANS RESISTING DESPERATELY. "t (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, April 26. The Tunisian battle continues to take the course expected, with slow progress being made on both the western and southern fronts against very stiff resistance. The strength of the enemy’s positions and the nature of the country alike forbid an expectation at this stage of any sudden break-through into the plain surrounding Tunis. AU along the front the Allies still have some way to go before the end of the

hilly regions is reached. This is particularly true of the southern front, where the Eighth Army faces a mass of ridges, culminating in Jebel Zaghouan. Despatches from North Africa lend colour to the statement in a communique that the enemy “is contesting every inch of ground,” and one correspondent says he believes the vast battle has entered on its critical stage. In the central sector massed British armour, striking south-east of Goubellat, smashed through a formation of German tanks to Jebel Bou Kournine, eight miles south-east of Goubellat and north-east of Lake Sebkret Elkourzia, after a daylong tank battle, in which

about ten enemy tanks, including four Mark 6s, were destroyed. Further south, early yesterday morning, a strong infantry attack was staged south-west of Lake Sebkret Elkourzia and we captured vital high ground six miles eastward of Bou Arada and successfully beat off a very strong German counter-attack. Still further south, on the Eighth Army’s left flank, French forces occupied five strategic heights, making one

of their most significant gains when they forced the enemy to abandon a position on Jebel Mansour. The Eighth Army continued to press forward slowly in the south, gradually moving against the flank of the Gelman troops battling to hold the plain Of Pont du Fahs against the armour of British First Army. In the north, the Americans, locked in the biggest battle of their experience, inflicted severe losses on the Germans, but sustained serious casualties of their own. They consolidated their position on the hills captured on Friday and started to batter the main

enemy positions on a line 16 miles east-north-east of Jebel Abiod, 15 miles westward of Mateur. In the Medjeg el Bab region, Longstop Hill is now completely in our hands and we are advancing steadily, if slowly. Eastward of Medjez el Bab, ' British infantry, despite heavy losses, advanced down the Mejerda Valley a traditional “conquerors’ road”—to capture Sidi Medien, after an advance

of about two miles. This tiny white-walled Arab town is only 25 miles from the outskirts of Tunis and seven miles due east of Medjez el Bab. The Germans are fighting desperately all along the front with their entire army and almost all their reserves. The enemy resistance is especially strong around Pont du Fahs, where they are threatened by crushing blows from the south-west by the First Army and from the southeast by the Eighth Army and the Nineteenth French Corps. . An enemy garrison which had been holding out in rock positions in Heidous village yesterday was finally liquidated. On the northern front, the strongpoint of Jebel Tangouche, where the enemy fought tenaciously, was stormed and the remnants of the garrison were captured. In the north, the Second United States Corps captured an important

height after heavy fighting. In the Sidi Nsir sector, the enemy was forced to withdraw and the Americans continue to press on. The Tactical Air Force yesterday continued its heavy attacks on enemy transport and positions. A number of vehicles were left in flames. Many bombs burst among enemy troops and gun emplacements. An enemy airfield in Tunis was successfully attacked. In the course of the day, seven enemy aircraft were destroyed. Twelve of ours are missing, but two of the pilots are safe. Jebel Terhouna is in the foothills, three miles north-west of Enfidaville. Heidous is on the southern slopes of Jebel Ang, seven miles north of Medjez. Jebel Tangouche is six miles north of Medjez, just west of Jebel Ahmera, or Longstop Hill.