ALLIED ASSAULT IN TUNISIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23942, 8 May 1943, Page 5

ALLIED ASSAULT IN TUNISIA

Axis Defence Line Smashed

Ist ARMY PASSES MASSICAULT

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rcc. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 7. “The enemy’s northern front in Tunisia has been completely broken,” says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters. “Only five miles now separates the British thrusting up the Mejerda Valley from the Americans.who have stormed forward south-east of Mateur.” “The enemy’s main defence system has been smashed. It is doubtful whether the Axis will be able to make a further stand before reaching the suburbs of Tunis. The British assault was so overwhelming that it even overran enemy units not engaged in front line duties. The outer ring of the German defences crumpled up like tinfoil. They had no answer to the sustained heaviness of the British land and air attack. At one time hundreds of our bombers and fighter-bombers were operating over a zone a little more than 12 miles deep. “Soon after midday yesterday the British vanguard was attacking the outer defences of Massicault, which is half way between Mejez el Bab and Tunis, and early in the afternoon the first British armour, guns, lorries, and infantry were moving through the streets of the town. The British spearhead was then 16 miles from Tunis. “Further north, where the German front has crumpled, the Americans are pushing steadily forward towards Bizerte.” The Algiers radio says that the Ist Army has made splendid progress since the capture of Massicault, and has penetrated deeply into the Tunisian plain. The Germans have lost their last hope of maintaining a continuous defence line. Tebourba, which is 20 miles from Tunis, is now threatened by both the British and the American forces. The British are moving up the road from Mejez el Bab, and the Americans are coming down from Mateur. The German radio says that the Allies have already launched an assault on Tebourba. In the north the Americans south of Lake Garaa-Achkel are closing in on Ferryville.

The capture of Massicault was reported in a special Allied communique. “The Ist Army, supported by the Royal Air Force, launched an offenlive in the early hours of to-day south of the river Mejerda," states the communique. “Our infantry and tanks penetrated deeply into the enemy positions and captured Massicault by storm. A large number of Germans and Italians surrendered* ‘‘The Ist Army opened its offensive at 3 a.m. with a terrific barrage from 400 guns. The infantry assault, which was made to the north of Mejez el Bab, hinged on, Peter’s Corner, which lies on the road through Massicault to Tunis, which is the main highway into the port. "British infantry, guns, and aeroplanes this morning began a determined all-out attempt to blast a way along the Mejerda Valiev to Tunis,” slated Reuter’s correspondent with the Ist Army in an earlier dispatch describing the offensive. “During the hours before dawn the British grouped more men and guns v on a two-mile front than have ever been concentrated on such an area in North Africa, or possibly on such an area on any front during the war. The British push began from a poH eight miles from Mejez el Bab, W,; which Tunis is 27 miles distant. IMifcapture of Jebel Bou Aoukaz was a preliminary move. Hundreds of guns laid! down a hellish barrage before the British infantry moved forward. “Allied airmen, approximately half British- and half American, played a major part in the preliminaries. During a moonless night Allied bombers flew over the enemy lines at frequent intervals. They got fully into their stride at dawn, and in three hours after dawn the airmen had made more than 1000 sorties. At almost exact quarterhour intervals strong formations flew ahead of the infantry, bombing and machine-gunning every spot where enemy movement was detected.’’ Double Offensive Earlier dispatches stated that British, French and American troops are now pressing on along a 40-mile front from the Mediterranean to the Mejez el Bab area after launching the great double offensive on Bizerte and Tunis. The Ist Army is attacking from northcast of Mejez el Bab toward Tunis along the Massicault road. Further north the Americans drove the Italians off Jebel Chemti and Jebel Achkel and now hold the first range of hills defending Bizerte. One American armoured column is moving north-east of Mateur and another encountered fierce German resistance in the mountain positions south-east of Mateur but successfully stormed the heights. All the correspondents with the North African armies emphasise the terrific Punch behind the Allied drive.'and infer that this probably ushers in the final phase of the long drawn out campaign,

Aircraft of the Tactical Force alone made more than 2000 sorties during the day. The measure of air support can be judged by the fact that the Allied advance was in no way interfered with by hostile aircraft. "Taking advantage of its comple'e air domination and making the most concentrated air attack of the war, the North-west African air forces blasted the path in advance of our ground units,” states a correspondent. "More than 2000 sorties were flown by the Tactical Air Force alone in direct co-operation with the - Army and 17 enemy aircraft were destroyed over their own landing grounds. Our land operations were carried out without hindrance from hostile aircraft.

“The Strategic Air Force deprived the enemy of desperately needed supplies. heavily bombing shipping in the straits and harbours of Sicily. In attacks on two convoys four barges and four small boats were sunk and merchantmen were left burning. Strategic bombers gave the harbor of Trapani and Marsala, in Sicily, a heavy pounding, scoring direct hits on a number of additional vessels and damaging harbour installations. “The progress towards complete air domination to which the Allied communique refers is illustrated by the fact that the Allied air forces destroyed more than 1650 enemy aeroplanes for the loss of fewer than 650 Allied machines between November 8 and May 2.” The newly captured Jebel Achkel forms a magnificent observation post overlooking the whole Bizerte plains. Guns sited on Jebel Achkel are already reported to be hammering Ferryville. which is only five miles away. The British United Press corresponden with the Allied air forces says Bizcrte’s docks, wharves, and shipyards are burning as the Allies bomb and shell this important Axis supply port The naval base of Tunis is also being heavily bombed and clouds of white smoke are pouring over both ports. , , Troops of the Bth Army have made a local advance in the Bouflcht sector and British patrols have penetrated deeply into the enemy lines. The artillery is intensely supporting infantry operations on this front. The enemy’s lavish use of land mines in Tunisia to delay as far as possible the Allied advance while he organises his defence positions in the rear, is described by a radio commentator in Tunisia. The French have encountered thick minefields in the neighbourhood of Pont du Fahs, and mines in cleverly-sited hill positions have impeded the attacks on Jebel Zaghouan, 12 miles to the east. Further east on the coastal sector, where the Bth Army is battling its way through the hills, there are manv cunningly-placed mines to contend with,

The Ist Army’s artillery, backed up by aeroplanes, gave the advanced GerJban positions a terrific pummelling, ■me Germans had heavy concentrations of field and anti-tank guns at Morjirendj, which is a village three miles oost of the offensive’s starting point, out quickly evacuated the village when British infantry stormed through the foothills in a surprise outflanking movement.

Allied Air Blitz The great Allied air blitz began on Wednesday. Axis supply lines, ports. Communications, supply dumps, and lorward positions were given a merci- ]® ss hammering. The Americans drives towards Ferryville from Mateur Were assisted by one of the heaviest “r attacks the Allies have yet staged

desertion of axis GENERALS

ALLIED RAIDS ON REGGIO

RUMOURS AMONG TROOPS IN TUNISIA LONDON. May 6. The Morocco radio reports that widespread rumours are circulating that von Atnim has left Tunisia after ordering "is troops to resist to the utmost. . ‘The morale of the German troops hi Tunisia has been affected by tumours about the removal of Romh]®!. von Arnirn, and many senior staff Officers to Europe while the troops rf®, left holding the bag,” states Reuly 3 correspondent with the United •.n ? s forces on the Mateur front. Prisoners indicale that their feeling hopelessness is heightened by empty "fornachs. Some of those captured were from the crack Barenthin Divis°h in the Jet'na area, which had not eaten for three days. ‘Some Germans at an advanced "lOuntain post were told not to retreat ? n Pain of being shot. When they went oack after running out of ammunition Lerrnan officers shot them on the Pot. The Germans who related this . e !: e taken from foxholes where they nad been crouching for three days, ♦n j n *> t * lat if was equally hopeless 10 advance or retreat.

(Rrc. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 7. The Allied air forces have made two raids on Reggio. which is on the Strait of Messina, opposite Sicily, rhe hist attack was made on Wednesday night when bombs were dropped in the target area. American heavy bombers made a daylight attack yesterday and scored direct hits on two vessels m the harbour. One enemy fighter was shot down, and one Allied bomber did not return.

ITALY’S INVASION DEFENCES

RECALL OF WORKERS IN GERMANY NEW YORK. May fi. Mussolini has recalled two-thirds of the Italians working in Germany, ostensibly for building fortifications to stave off an Allied invasion, reports the Stockholm correspondent of the “New York Times.’’ It is estimated that 500.000 have returned to Italy since April 15, leaving 250.000. Germany is endeavouring to fill the gap with compulsory labour from the occupied countries.