AIR COVER FOR TRIPOLI

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13057, 27 January 1943, Page 3

AIR COVER FOR TRIPOLI

WORK OF REPAIRING HARBOUR Eighth Army At Tunisian Border Germans Held On Central Front London, Jan. 26. The Stli Army is now still nearer the Tunisian border and our main forces have reached a point 3 0 miles west of Tripoli. Yesterday our fighter-bombers again attacked the port of Zuara, 70 miles west of Tripoli. They also made further attacks on the aerodrome at Medenine, 60 miles inside the Tunisian border. Medenine is an important road junction between the Mareth line and the port of Gabes. A correspondent points put that our air forces in addition to pounding the retreating Axis troops are out to drive the Luftwaffe away in order that there may be no interference with our work of repairing Tripoli harbour. From all our widespread operations yesterday not one of our aircraft is missing. The vanguard of the FightingFrench forces under General Leclerc entered Tripoli from the south yesterday and made contact with our troops. They reached Tripoli 39 days after crossing the Libyan frontier. In their great trek from Lake Chad they have covered 1500 miles across the most difficult terrain it is possible to encounter. In central Tunisia the German advance has been halted. At one point on this sector our troops advanced 15 miles before coming into contact with any enemy units. The Germans have made no attempt to renew the offensive in the Pont du Fahs-Bou Arada area. A correspondent states that the political situation in North Africa is one of the chief questions on which a clear statement is hoped for. Axis propaganda sources suggest that the Allies are preparing a triple blow against the Axis Tunisian bridgehead. Berlin radio reports that the 'Eighth Army is using many tanks and is again attempting a flanking move against Rommel's withdrawing forces. United States forces are concentrating south-west of Tebessa with the apparent intention of attempting to reach the coast between Gabes and Sfax. Paris'radio asserts that the British are preparing a new offensive north of Bou Arada.