THE TUNISIAN CAMPAIGN.

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23813, 5 December 1942, Page 5

THE TUNISIAN CAMPAIGN.

Fighting For Tebourba

ENEMY COUNTERATTACK (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 4 The latest, report on the fighting in Tunisia says that after their first attack at Tebourba failed, the Germans tried again. This second attack was also broken, and the battle area was left littered with burning German equipment. According to a statement from Allied headquarters the Germans are in strong defensive positions near Mateur and Tebourba. Other reports say it seems certain that the Germans have managed to get fairly strong forces into Tunisia. The National Broadcasting Com-

pany’s conespondent in_ North Africa reports: “The Axis now ' holds Tebourba and Mateur, the key communication towns in the Allied drives against Tunis and Bizerte. The enemy has been heavily reinforced, and is now in strongly-placed defensive positions, with short supply lines. “It will take heavy and sustained attacks to dislodge him. There is little doubt of the final result, but the longer it takes to clear the Axis forces out of Tunisia, the longer it will be before we can turn south and start thinking about Marshal Rommel.”

Earlier, the correspondent said: “We are holding Tebourba by the skin of our teeth. The going will be tough. An announcement from Berlin slates that the Germans have recaptur’d Tebourba. but this is not continued by All ted sources. . , "The Germans are trying dosperatcly to .xegain the vital Maloui-Jed-cida-Tcbourba triangle,” says an Allied headquarters spokesman. “Obviously whoever holds it will eventually win the battle for Tunis, , “Heavy fighting continues in the Mateur area. Losses have been heavy on both sides. We hold the western part of Jcdeida, which changed hands several times during a tank battle w ich raged violently for 48 hours. The British and American armoured U.rccs have now regrouped.” . Thursday’s Allied North African Headquarters communique states: “Operations continue in the Tebourba area. There has also been fighting on the western outskirts of Jedeida. In the neighbourhood of Torbourba a second enemy counler-attack, on a scale larger than that of December 1, was repulsed wuth considerable destruction of enemy equipment. “Air activity continues on both sides. Aerodromes at Bizerte and Tunis have been raided by day and night. Much damage has been done at both places, but especially at Tunis, where many aircraft have been hit on the ground. Sweeps in the Gabes area and m'er the forward area have been carried out. Full details are not yet available, but it is known that six enemy aircraft were destroyed.” French Positions Attacked

“The Axis forces followed up their abortive counter-attack in the Tcbourba area with a new thrust against positions held by the French 30 miles south-west of Tunis." a French communique states. “The enemy attacks were anticipated aod stopped by our fire." . ,

“The fierce Gorman attack against Tcbourba devolved into a duel of elimination between Gorman tanks and British 25-poundor guns, which accounted for 13 enemy tanks —the great majority of the attacking force,” re-

ports Router’s correspondent with the Ist Army. “The attacks were then broken off. The German effort is considered to be only a part of a vigorous rearguard action, and not the initiation of a counter-offensive.

“The British positions at Tebourba arc being continually strengthened. An American tank force has now reinforced the British infantry. The Allied force on the central front, advancing towards Mateur, attacked withdrawing German tanks and knocked out 12 out of 1G of them. The Allies now threaten the right flank of the Germans who attacked Tebourba. “A British and American tank force, in another clash with German armoured units between Bcja and Mateur, knocked out 19 enemy tanks, including four heavy ones of the Mark IV type, for the loss of two British and five American tanks.”

The Algiers radio says: “The Allied forces are now in the mountains outside Tunis close enough to look down on the city." says the Algiers radio. A war correspondent from Allied headquarters says: “General Nchring, after the failure of the counter-attack at Tebourba. is believed to be massing his panzer forces for another attack. Short, fierce tank clashes are being fought along the Tunis-Bizerte front."

Earlier Reports of Campaign

British troops continue to advance steadily towards Tunis and Bizerte according to an earlier report from a correspondent in North Africa, German minefields caused a slight holdup on Wednesday when British armour was moving to the north-cast in the direction of Mateur, about 20 miles south-west of Bizerte, which is an important point'ln the enemy defence of both cities. An advance on Mateur is now being made from both flanks, thus avoiding the minefield. A further threat to the enemy, who may find it difficult to effect a quick withdrawal to Bizerte, was made on Thursday morning, when medium bombers attacked a bridge on the direct road.

Converging attacks on Tunis appear to bo developing. It was reported on Thursday that although the British were in Jedcida, the Germans were also in some parts of the town. Attempts were being made to snipe the British troops, who wore engaged in mopping up.

French forces, supported by American aircraft, are holding a line to the south through Lekef. This prevents any Axis attempt to bring forces from Tripoli to attack the Allied rear. The main armour of the British Army is also taking steps to deal with an enemy movement from the south.

In retreating eastwards towards Tunis and Bizcrte, the Axis forces left stores and ammunition. Where bridges had been blown up. the British engineers did splendid work in constructing new ones during the night. Destruction of Stores The correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph” with advanced elements of the Ist Army near Tunis says: "Evidence has accumulated that the Gormans are doing little more than getting out. Thev are hurriedly retreating on the northern road from Tebourba to Tunis, pursued by British infantry riding on tanks. The enemy is burning stores, and not even trying to load them on transports.” The correspondent of the "New York Times” In Tunisia says; "There is ample evidence that the Nazi troops which are pouring into Tunisia are below standard. The Luftwaffe is dropping paratroops by night, but Allied outposts arc just as busy rounding them up by day. The paratroops, equipped with demolition charges and land mines, wear Arab robes as a dis-

guise. The German light tanks do not match the British and American tanks, which are pounding them to pieces,” The German news agency says: “Tunisia has become an important bridgehead for all Axis operations. It is true that the Straits of Sicily are infested with British submarines and are Within range of the American Air Forces in Algiers and of British aeroplanes based on Malta, but the enemy must reckon on heavy losses if he tries to harass Axis shipping across the straits.” Malta reports an almost complete cessation of enemy air attacks, and no enemy activity in the last 24 hours,