Late News AXIS WITHDRAWAL FORCED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 139, 9 March 1943, Page 5

Late News AXIS WITHDRAWAL FORCED

Mareth Line Area BRILLIANT ANTI-TANK SCORE BY ALLIES

LONDON, March 8. The Allied headquarters in North Africa report that the enemy’s attacks against the Eighth Army positions in front of the Mareth Line area have failed. The communique states that yesterday afternoon General Rommel’s forces, including infantry and tanks, were forced to withdraw toward the hills north and north-west of Medenine. It is now confirmed that 33 enemy tanks were completely destroyed during the fighting on Saturday without the loss pf one British tank. Algiers radio says that the Axis forces are reported to have lost a total of 45 tanks and 4000 men killed, wounded or captured in the attacks against the Eighth Army. A 8.8. C. reporter in Cairo says that when Rommel moved back yesterday the R.A.F. heavily attacked the enemy. Axis planes were also active, and nine of them were destroyed and probably 20 more damaged without a single loss by the R.A.F. “There is no doubt,” the correspondent adds, “that the first round is ours, but there is going to be plenty of fighting yet.” In northern Tunisia, today’s communique says, our aggressive patrol activity continued yesterday. Allied patrols were also out in central Tunisia.