SURVEY OF CAMPAIGN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1943, Page 3

SURVEY OF CAMPAIGN

General Freyberg’s report reviews the operations in which the New Zealand Division was engaged in the final stages of the Tunisian campaign. He says that the battle for North Africa, ended in a disaster for the enemy comparable to Stalingrad. The Royal Navy and Allied air forces successfully discouraged any attempt at evacuation by the Italian Navy, which did not put to sea. “In my last cabled report, sent from near Gabes on April 5, I described our ‘left hook’ which turned the Mareth Line,” states General Freyberg. “This short account, which I began in Tunis just five weeks later, tells the story of the part played by your division in the last chase of the Eighth Army’s long advance and in the final great battle which was fought by British, American and French forces to smash the Axis bridgehead and end the North African campaign. “On being turned out of the Mareth Line the enemy withdrew to a position on Wadi Akarit, closely followed by the New Zealand Division and the First British Armoured Division. It soon became clear that the enemy would endeavour to hold this line, since any further withdrawal would open the way for the Eighth Army to join hands with the American forces advancing from Gafsa. “The position was naturally strong, with the sea on one side and impassable salt marshes on the other. A fullscale frontal attack was therefore necessary, and three infantry divisions the British 50th, and 51st Highland and the Fourth Indian—were deployed for the assault. At this stage the New Zealand Division was withdrawn into reserve and with the British First Armoured Division was given the role of breaking through once a breach was made. “From a nearby hill I watched the Eighth Army concentrate for the attack. Continuous lines of transport were coming up the roads, and over the entire landscape as far as the eye could see the tanks, guns and trucks of a motorised army were assembled.