FIGHT FOR RIDGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 7, 9 January 1943, Page 5

FIGHT FOR RIDGE

ALLIES' WITHDRAWAL

One Infantry Battalion 'Dislodged N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. noon., LONDON, Jan. 8. Details of the action in which the enemy yesterday dislodged British troops from .their positions 15 miles east of Mateur, Tunisia, captured on the previous day, are given by a correspondent at Allied force headquarters. The Germans, he states, succeeded in dislodging an infantry battalion holding Djebel Azzag Ridge and also retook a hill further to the north which Commandos had captured.

Our troops fought hard to regain the hills, but, against strong crossfire and after hard fighting throughout the day withdrew under cover of darkness. R.A.F. fighters and Humbombers ga-tfe our troops active support, attacking infantry and batteries and machine-gunning enemy troops. The correspondent adds that American aircraft carried out three raids in the neighbourhood of Kairwan yesterday. Bostons, escorted by Lightnings, bombed a military camp and later another group of Bostons, escorted by Kittyhawks, bombed the same objective. Direct hits were scored on railway yards and on buildings on either side of the yard. Fighters made many sorties yesterday" shooting down three enemy planes against a loss of two.

Air Activity Continues According to a Middle East joint communique there was nothing to report from land forces yesterday. A dawn attack was carried out by Allied fighters and enemy transport moving westwards was machinegunned along, a stretch of coastal load 40. miles east of Tripoli. At least one Messerschmitt 109 was destroyed and others were damaged during air battles. "Tunis and Susa were, again bombed on Wednesday night and bits were scored on a railway depot at Tunis and large fires were started at Susa, where a ship was reported hit. Yesterday a force of neavy bombers attacked Palermo Harbour and scored hits on installations. Fighter-bombers raided the sulphur wo?ks at Licata, Sicily, and caused violent explosions.- ■,-- "The airfield on Lampedusa Island •was also attacked. One of our aircraft is missing." • French Camel Corps The British United Press correspondent reports, that the French Camel Corps, composed of fierce desert warriors, after a violent battle, yesterday captured Tanout Mailer, 14 miles from Tiaret in South Tunisia, and wiped out 250 of the 400 Italians there. The latest exploit of the famous French Corps is the capture of the desert post near the Tripolitaman frontier, says a correspondent in North Africa. It was garrisoned by about 400 Italians. The corps is composed of tough desert fighters led by French officers and dreaded by the Axis garrisons in the desert, on whom they swoop silently, neither asking nor giving quarter. The best scouts in the French Army come from one group of desert fighters. It is announced by- the French authorities that German parachutists dropped at St. Arnaud, 40 miles from the coast, and 85 south-west of Phil-, lippeville to carry out objectives, were accompanied by one Arab m civilian clothes. All were rounded up and arrested, thanks to the help of Arabs in the district. One Arab parachutist was court-martialled and shot.