ALLIED STRATEGY AGAIN SUCCEEDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 75, 30 March 1943, Page 3

ALLIED STRATEGY AGAIN SUCCEEDS

MASTERLY STROKES Thrust At Sea End And Drive Towards Rear British Official Wireless Rec. noon. < RUGBY, Mar. 29. North African dispatches leave no doubt that the Eighth Army has done it again. By the thrust at the seaward end of the Mareth position, swiftly followed by a masterly stroke towards the enemy's rear at El Hamma, General Montgomery's conquering army once more, this time in just over a week, has compelled Rommel's Afrika Korps to withdraw from a strong position. One correspondent reports that it was the attack on El Hamma that decided the Mareth battle. The Germans there, though fighting well; . had not been able to stem the British advance, and ■ once more had to abandon quantities of tanks, guns and undamaged motor transport. The enemy is retreating towards his rear positions round Gabes, laying minefields and fighting _ rearguard actions under constant air attacks. Air operations were somewhat hampered by bad weather, and clearer skies are hoped for so that the full Allied air striking power can be. .exerted. Americans Make Progress Meanwhile, correspondents report that the Americans are making progress through the difficult, hilly country eastward of El Guettar, where resistance has hitherto been stiff. American Spitfires and Airacobras have also been destroying road transport between Gabes and Mezzouna. According to the Algiers radio/the • ;Americans are within 18 miles of Kairwan. —, The First Army's offensive has been crowned with success in the Jeb el Aboid area, despite strong resistance. All their objectives were reached. All is quiet in the GafsaMaknassi area. Air activity remains lively. A great share of the victory has been contributed by the Western Desert Air Force under Air ViceMarshal Coningham. Wave after wave of fighters and bombers swept over enemy positions. Sometimes one attack was hardly over before another began. Twice during the battle the distant supply port of Palermo, in Sicily, was attacked. .. Attack Launched on Friday "The attack launched on Friday afternoon on the enemy's strong positions southward of El Hamma forced the enemy to withdraw froyi the Mareth area," states the NoiTn Africa communique. "This attack, 'with powerful and very effective air support, caused the enemy heavy losses in tanks, heavy guns, motor transport and men. "Many Germans were taken prisoner, and fierce fighting continued in this area on Saturday, with our troops making good progress. Eastward of El Guettar our troops made progress yesterday in difficult country. In the Maknassi and Fondouk areas our patrols were active. . "In the north, in the Jeb el Aboid . area, we made successful local advances and a considerable number of prisoners were taken. Despite bad weather on the. Tunisian front our air forces maintained their attacks on enemy transports in the Gabes area. Four enemy aircraft were destroyed. We lost two."