A MOUNTAIN RAMPART

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1943, Page 3

A MOUNTAIN RAMPART

“Advancing north of Sousse, we were faced by the formidable mountain chain which forms a natural rampart protecting Tunis from the south and west. Here the forces of Arnim and Messe (who had succeeded Rommel) were preparing to meet the Allied assault. The heavily-reinforced enemy held all the important passes and dominated every way of approach to Tunis. “In front of this natural stronghold the Eighth Army deployed, linking up with the other armies under the command of General Alexander, the entire force, including most powerful air forces and navy, operating as a single war machine under the direction of General Eisenhower. The encircling Allied forces were in four main groups: the

■American Corps, switched from the Gafsa front, was in the north, then the British First Army, then General Giraud’s French army, and, lastly, in the south, the Eighth Army. The plan was to make the main attack on the First Army front, where the ground favoured the use of tanks. The Eighth Army operations were planned to pin as many enemy troops as possible on the southern sector and thus help the main thrust in the north. “The enemy position opposite us was in great depth. ■ The forward line lay at the base of steep hills with positions on spurs and peaks rising behind. These highlands, rising out of a plain as flat as a billiard table, gave the enemy a commanding position with perfect observation over the country across which we had to attack. Surprise could only be obtained by assembling our attacking troops at night, which entailed bringing our artillery forward on to the plain on the night of attack. The guns had to remain silent till zero hour, and we knew that if we did not gain our objectives they would be overlooked and would not be able to remain forward in daylight to support the infantry. Further difficulties for the attackers were two deep wadis, an old Roman viaduct, a minefield laid in the barley fields, and giant cactus hedges, all of which had to be dealt with by our sappers and infantry before vehicles with the supporting arms could be got forward.