IMPROVEMENT REPORTED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1943, Page 5

IMPROVEMENT REPORTED

LONDON, January 24. A communique issued last night by j the French headquarters stated that the French forces had regrouped on a sector in the mountain region about 20 miles north-west of Kairwan after beating off enemy attacks throughout the day. British, American, and French troops, the communique states, have stemmed the Axis thrust. The fighting has been taking place in the area between 20 miles southwest of Tunis and 40 miles north-west of Kairwan. • An earlier French communique said that on Thursday night a strong enemy attack, supported by 50 tanks, made progress at Am el Dor, 30 miles west of Kairwan. Further south the French, in a surprise attack, captured a height in the area of Fondouk and Laones. Their troops continued the pursuit and captured part of the garrison of Serd^tes, which retreated some days before. The Associated Press correspondent at Algiers said that ill-equipped French units had no choice but to withdraw when the Germans made the thrust. British tank casualties since the action began were less than onethird of the German total. Seventeen British infantry tanks were thrown in on the side of the battered French with the object of preventing the Germans from consolidating on the ridge running south-west of Pont dv Fahs. Tlie Germans obviously aim at establishing themselves on the ridge for tho new situation which will arise when Rommel's army reaches Tunisia. LONDON, January 24. The enemy land forces have been making still stronger efforts to widen the gap leading to their northern sector, and have gained a hill west of Pont dv Fahs. This hill is on a ridge running down towards Pont dv Fahs and is about 500 feet high. Allied troops in this area are getting more support from our bombers and fighters, and aircraft are hitting the enemy behind his lines as well. Morocco radio says 17 Axis tanks have been destroyed, by French Camel Corps men, probably in the same sector. Four Axis bombers were shot down yesterday and last night in the Tunisian area. Allied air losses in all the North African operations are seven Tunisian aircraft and one from the Middle East

Ed nature of the country would hide an army, but large forces could not! operate there without utter confusion.; The correspondent says the position has hardened since his last visit just before Christmas, when the Japanese had made the sudden withdrawal in face of the powerful British advance, which carried the line to Maungdaw and Buthedaung, and well on the way to Rathedaung. Now, the enemy have been counter-attacking Temple Hill, which has been in British hands for seven days. The Japanese have also shown signs of holding on grimly to Rathedaung.—B.O.W. RUGBY, January 24. R.A.F. long-range bombers attacked Japanese airfields at Heho, in central Burma last night, scoring hits on the runways and dispersal areas. Yesterday the R.A.F. attacked enemy steamers along the Arakan coast. None of our aircraft are missing.—B.O.W. By special, arrangement, Reuters, world serrtee, in addition to other special'sources of Information,, is used In the compilation of the oversells Intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein in Australia and New .Zealand are rewmd.