Double Drive On Bizerta And Tunis

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 107, 7 May 1943, Page 3

Double Drive On Bizerta And Tunis

FIERCE ONSLAUGHTS British And U.S. Airmen Give Powerful Support (New Zealand Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. The Allies have launched a general offensive in Tunisia. Three Allied columns are fast closing in on Bizerta, which is already under the fire of our artillery. The enemy is reported to be evacuating Teburba and withdrawing to Tunis. The American Second Corps launched an offensive against Bizerta simultaneously with one launched by the British First Army at dawn to-day. The Americans have taken Jebel Chemti and Jebel Achkel. Reuters correspondent with the First Army says the British drive is making excellent progress and everything is going according to plan. Berlin radio declared that Bizerta's heavy guns are cooperating with bombers and dive bombers in hammering the French and American forces advancing on the port. All-Out British Attempt To Blast Way To Tunis British infantry, guns and planes this morning began a determined all-out attempt to blast their way along the Medjerda Valley to Tunis, says Reuters correspondent with the First Army. During the hours before dawn the British grouped more men and guns on a two-mile front than were ever concentrated on such an area in North Africa or possibly such an area on any front during the war. The British push began from a point eight miles from Medjez el Bab, from where Tunis is 27 miles distant. The capture of Jebel Bou Aoukaz was the preliminary move. Hundreds of guns laid down a hellish barrage before the British infantry moved forward'. Allied airmen, approximately half of whom were British and half American, played a major part in the preliminaries.

During the moonless night Allied bombers flew over the enemy lines at frequent intervals and got fully into stride at dawn, and in three hours after dawn the airmen had made over 1000 sorties. At most exact quarter-hour intervals strong formations flew ahead of the infantry, bombing and machine-gunning every spot where enemy movement was detected.

"Terrific Punch Behind All Allied Drives" British, French and American troops are pressing on along a 40-mile front from the Mediterranean southward to the Medjez el Bab area after launching the great double offensive against Bizerta and Tunis. The British First Army, with the support of 400 guns, is attacking from north-east of Medjez el Bab towards Tunis along the Massicault Road', which is the highway into Tunis. Farther north American troops drove Italians off Jebel Chemti and Jebel Achkel, and now hold the first range of hills defending Bizerta. One American armoured column is moving north-east and east of Mateur. Another encountered fierce German resistance in mountain positions south-east of Mateur, but successfully stormed the heights. The Americans driving towards Ferryville from Mateur are being assisted by one of the heaviest air attacks the Allies have yet staged. The newly captured' height of Jebel Achkel forms a magnificent observation post overlooking the whole of the Bizerta plain. Guns on Jebel Achkel are already reported to be hammering Ferryville, which is only five miles away. Troops of the Eighth Army have made a local advance in the Bouficha sector and British patrols have penetrated deeply into the enemy lines. Intense artillery fire is supporting the infantry operations on this front. The First Army artillery, backed up by planes, gave the advanced German positions a terrific pummelling. The Germans had a heavy concentration of field and anti-tank guns at Borj Frendj, which is a village three miles east of the starting point of the offensives, but the enemy quickly evacuated the village when British infantry stormed through the foothills in a surprise outflanking movement. All correspondents stress the terrific punch behind the Allied drives and' infer that this probably ushers in the final phase of the long-drawn-out Tunisian campaign. Morocco radio reports that widespread rumours are circulating that von Arnim left Tunisia after ordering his troops to resist to the utmost.