Allied Drives In Four Sectors

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 74, 29 March 1943, Page 3

Allied Drives In Four Sectors

TUNISIA OFFENSIVE

French, American And British Forces Advance (New Zealand Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 28. The Eighth Army has completely regained the initiative in the El Hamma area and has pressed into the outskirts of the town, ■where fierce fighting continues. The First Army has launched an attack in Jeb el Aboid area, in the northern sector, which has reached all its objectives, the Americans have captured Fondouk, and the French forces under General le Clerc, on the left flank of the Mareth position, have occupied important heights. The attack on El Hamma was launched at dawn yesterday. The all-day battle which followed was the culmination of weeks of unbroken fighting, in which Allied' air forces played a considerable part. The Axis, though driven back, is by no means broken, and progress over the next 1 6 miles to Gabes is likely to be as hard-fought as were last week's gains. Reuters correspondent at Algiers says that for the first time for several days mention is made in a communique of a particular area of the Mareth fighting. The reference to advances southwest of Mareth indicates that fighting has taken a new direction. The main weight of the Eighth Army's attack hitherto was rather north-west of Mareth near the coast. General Montgomery followed the pattern of the El Alamein attack when he thrust near the coast, which was fiercely resisted, followed by a push in the south. The weather continues reasonably good, but a high wind is rising in the battle zone, and dust clouds are beginning to swirl. 4 Americans Capture Fondouk The Americans created a promising situation by the capture of Fondouk. They are now through the mountains in central Tunisia and stand at the very edge of the plain forming a corridor for the Axis troops resisting the Eighth Army. American infantry attacking from the direction of Medjez-El Aouin at dawn yesterday covered 1 7 miles and captured Fondouk at night after encountering slight opposition. A faint stirring, observed in the far north in the past two or three days, has become a small action. The British are now restoring the position at Jeb el Aboid, which is the most threatened sector. The enemy's recognition of his advantageous position in this sector is indicated by the strength of the resistance to the British attack. >£4