BATTLES FOR HEIGHTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 April 1943, Page 3

BATTLES FOR HEIGHTS

RAGING FIERCELY IN TUNISIA Attacks and Counter-Attacks in Furious Succession ALLIES SMASHING DEEPER INTO ENEMY DEFENCES ROAD BEYOND PONT DU FAHS CUT BY FRENCH LONDON, April 29. British, French and American troops have smashed their way deeper into the enemy’s bridgehead in Tunisia in the past 24 hours. They are still coming up against stiff enemy resistance and repeated counter-attacks. Along the north coast French Moroccan troops have advanced still nearer to the port and fortress of Bizerta. They captured an important height and inflicted heavy casualties. South of the French, troops of the American Second Army Corps have fought their way to the slopes of a big hill about 15 miles from Mateur. Men of the British First Army have taken part in some of the fiercest fighting of the campaign, round the road running from Medez el Bab to Tebourba. The road is dominated by hills on both sides and the hills have to be stormed one by one. On Tuesday the British troops fought their way to within 400 feet of the top of a dominating height. Yesterday the Germans threw in two powerful counter-attacks. The first was flung back but the British forces had to yield some ground to the second attack. Bombers went in and plastered the enemy’s positions. After the enemy’s defences had been smashed infantry stormed forward again. A late message says the British troops reached the top of the hill and advanced down the other side. t Further down the front, troops of the First Army, together with French forces, are advancing rapidly towards Pont du Fahs. General Anderson’s men are only a few miles from the town while the French have cut the road from Pont du Fahs to Enfidaville. Other French troops, on the left wing of the British Eighth Army, have captured two important heights.