Allies Within Nine Miles Of Bizerta

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 106, 6 May 1943, Page 5

Allies Within Nine Miles Of Bizerta

TWELVE FROM TUNIS

Arnim Occupying Hills Westward Of Teburba

(New Zealand Press Association. —Copyright.—Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 5. A powerful French and American column is reported to-night to be within nine miles of Bizerta, says the Daily Telegraph correspondent in Tunisia. The position in Tunisia is dramatically summed up: "The Allies are within nine miles of Bizerta, five miles of Ferryville and 12 miles of Tunis"; but this statement is subject to reservations, although the Allies clearly are increasing their pressure against the two main objectives, Bizerta and Tunis, and are further limiting the space in which it is possible for the Axis forces to operate effectively. The British United Press correspondent at Allied headquarters states that the Axis forces are now hemmed in a narrow area of Tunisia about 2500 square miles in area. Von Arnim is concentrating his main strength on the road to Tunis and is occupying the hills west of Teburba, despite the increasing danger of being outflanked from the north. The Americans and the French are aiming to close the trap around Bizerta. In the south-west one column swung around the western' shores of Lake Achkel, arid, travelling through a heavy storm, reached Jebel Chemti, on the northern side. Its progress was too fast for the Germans, who threw in a fair-sized force in a counter-attack that apparently was hastily planned. This was not only repulsed, but the Americans in a second attack brought their units up the western slopes of a hill which dominates the crossroads north-west of Ferryville. They are now clinging strongly to positions which are only 13 miles from Bizerta. Nevertheless, the correspondent says, it is obvious that the Germans intend to cling to Jebel Chemti as long as possible. American Column Smashes Feeble Axis Counter-Attack South of Lake Achkel an American column advanced across the River Tine to Jebel Makna, eight miles south-east of Mateur. There the enemy could only resist feebly, and his counter-attack was smashed almost as soon as it started. Jebel Makna is the first large ridge east of the River Tine and is a good jumping-off place for attacks down towards the Tunisian plain. The splitting of the Allied forces around the two lakes, Achkel and Bizerta, is unavoidable, but the defences also are split. French progress in the direction of Jebel Zaghouan is very important. Zaghouan is the highest peak in Tunisia. It dominates much ground between Pont du Fahs and the sea, and is one of the last great strongholds of the Axis defence. The British United Press correspondent concludes: "There is every indication that von Arnim is now in his last main defensive posiSons, and when the last line is cracked his hopes of holding the Tunisian tip for any length of time will be gone."

The National Broadcasting Corporation's correspondent in Algiers reports that the important railway line from Pont du Fahs to Enfidaville has been cut. It was the enemy's main supply line to the south. The Germans probably will be forced to withdraw on the Eighth Army's front. Composite Panzer Force Hits At First Army Spearhead Von Arnim's most serious effort in the past 24 hours has been made about 11 miles north-east of Medjez el Bab, says Reuters correspondent at Allied headquarters. This effort was made when a composite panzer force hit at the British First Army s spearhead near Jebel Bou Aoukaz. It is clear that the Axis forces are clinging fiercely to this key sector on the Medjez el Bab-Teburba road, and only the hardest fighting will prod themfrom their mountain strongholds. The Germans have thoroughly prepared the ground around Assicault, on the main Medjez el Bab-Tunis road for defensive action. Farther south the French troops who struck across the Pont du Fahs-Enfidaville road have made one of the main Allied attacks. Advancing at the first gleam of light, they met with fierce opposition on the vital highway, and by night were two miles north of the road. Von Arnim has been using this road for supplying his troops who are opposed to the Eighth Army. His problem of holding back the Eighth Army now becomes more difficult. Vichy radio, quoting German military authorities, admits that the French troops have now completely outflanked Pont du Fahs. The radio adds: "Fighting along the whole front is characterised by the crushing superiority of Allied troops and modern weapons."