BRITISH STRATEGY
SUCCESS IN FRUSTRATING ENEMY PLANS SHATTERING EFFECT OF DRIVE ON TUNIS. WITH FIRST ARMY SUPPORTED BY EIGHTH. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 am.) RUGBY, May 11. It is now clear that General Alexander’s strategy in driving what the Germans call a "bolt” through the weakened enemy front east of Medjez el Bab succeeded in frustrating the enemy’s plan to withdraw most of his forces into Cape Bon. It is thought that the enemy’s plan was to hold a ring from sea to sea as long as possible and then leave a garrison to hold Bizerta and pivot the rest of the armies on the Zaghouan mountains and withdraw south-east-wards through Tunis.
Forestalling this plan the First Army by constant infantry attacks, got astride the River Medjerda, and were then at the crest of the ring in the centre, where the blow would fall. The victory was thus essentially a success for the First Army. To forestall the anticipated enemy move, however, the blow had to have extreme speed and impetus, so part of the Eighth Army, was sent north to add its weight. As a result, the movement of the British armoured forces was as swift as anything accomplished by the Germans in 1940. At 11 a.m. on May 6, the armoured forces passed through the infantry east of Medjez el Bab. In defence of Tunis were grouped the Goering regiment and nearly the whole of the 15th. Panzer Division. Next morning, however, British advance elements were in the suburbs of Tunis and that afternoon the city was ours. Some tanks then wheeled north. Near the mouth of the Medjerda they met Americans from Mateur. There it was that the German Fifth Panzer Army surrended. That part of von Arnim’s command which remained south of the British “bolt” position at Tunis is the First Panzer Army, consisting mostly of Italians, but also of remnants of the 10th, and the 21st. Panzers and Goering Regiment. It is under the command of the Italian General Messe. These forces may number 80,000 to 100,000. If the example of Stalingrad is followed, von Arnim has the choice of flight and freedom or capture and a Marshal's baton. MALTA AIRCRAFT SUCCESSFUL RAID ON SICILY. SEVERAL TARGETS ATTACKED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.48 a.m.) RUGBY, May 11. Yesterday fighter-bombers attacked Biscari Aerodrome, in Sicily, states a Malta message. Bombs were seen to burst in the centre of the aerodrome and in the dispersal area. Last night bombers made another attack on Marsala Railway Station. Fires were started on the railway tracks. Air squadrons also attacked installations at the Porte Empedocie Power Station.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1943, Page 3
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442BRITISH STRATEGY Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1943, Page 3
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