GUMS LAUNCH STRONG ATTACK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 39, 16 February 1943, Page 3

GUMS LAUNCH STRONG ATTACK

1H CENTRAL TlimSIA

Americans Suffer Losses And Withdraw

N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright Rec. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 15. The Germans have launched a strong attack against the Allied positions in Central Tunisia. Reuters correspondent at Allied headquarters says the situation is under control. It is a major battle. The Germans launched two attacks, one against the Sidi Bousid road and the other north from Faid. Rommel's panzer units, serving as a spearhead, launched the attack at 7 a.m. yesterday, moving westwards from Faid Pass. The German attack is aimed either at enlarging the end of the German communication corridor or staging a major battle in the southern Tunisian area. A great number of infantry, behind tanks, with heavy support from dive-bombers, moved along the roads towards Speitla and by 9 a.m. had reached the junction of the Sidi Bousid road. Other tanks and infantry headed towards Sbeitla, on the high ridge to the north. The Germans simultaneously launched another attack from a hill north of Sened, crossing the Faid—Gafsa Road and heading to the north-west. This attack threatens to isolate Gafsa. American Troops Hold Area American armoured units and troops of the combat command hold the whole area, which is under attack. German pressure forced, them back to Sbeitla, but according to reports which came in last evening they had the situation well under control.

The British United Press Algiers correspondent reports that one Axis column advancing west of Faid Pass had advanced 18 miles by 6 p.m. yesterday, threatening the important American position at Sbeitla, and the other Axis column had also advanced about 18 miles. An American unit stationed at Sidi Bousid, between the two columns, counter-attacked and suffered losses. It then withdrew westwards to avoid encirclement. The Associated Press correspondent says about 50 German tanks overwhelmed the American artillery positions guarding the west exit of Faid Pass, and then branched out to the north-west and south-west. ' The American anchor positions at Gafsa are obviously In danger of being cut off, and it is assumed that Gafsa might be evacuated. The Americans at Sidi Bousid suffered heavily. American light bombers from dawn until dusk heavily strafed troop concentrations, gun positions and motor in an attempt to weaken the enemy thrust. However, Stuka dive-bombers played an important role in Rommel's initial success in hitting the American ground forces hard. Berlin radio states that the Germans occupied Sidi Bousid and captured 21 tanks. Official Communique It is reported in the Allied North African communique that the enemy launched an attack by tanks, infantry and artillery supported by dive-bombers in the area west of Faid Pass and heavy fighting is continuing. Our fighters actively supported our troops throughout the day, attacking enemy vehicles and other ground targets. Light bombers attacked objectives at Maknassi and Senea, also vehicles and tanks. Our fighters broke up a formation of fighter-bombers and fprced the enemy to jettison their bombs. One enemy fighter *was destroyed and two of our aircraft are missing. Air activity in Tunis and Tripolitania was on a small scale, says the Middle East communique. Aerodromes in Crete and targets in south Italy and Sicily were attacked on Saturday night. A small formation of enemy bombers was intercepted -by our night fighters near Bengasi. One enemy plane was shot down. We lost no planes.