AT ROMMEL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1943, Page 5

AT ROMMEL

(Rec. 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 15. The Eighth Army, harassing Rommel's forces' area behind the Tunisian border, has just endured three days of appalling weather, reports a news agency correspondent, but they continued to heavily press and worry the Germans. A gale lashed the Mediterranean coast, sending waves crashing over the breakwater at Zuara harbour. An angry north wind swept the desert, and heavy rain rendered the salt marshes even more treacherous. In many places salty sand was churned into slush six or seven inches deep. The Eighth Army's work, however, went on as usual. The storm subsided on Saturday. WORK OF THE AEROPLANES.

The Allied North Africa communique reports that the enemy launched an attack by tanks, infantry, and artillery, supported by dive-bombers, in the area west of Faid, and that heavy fighting is continuing. Our fighters actively supported the troops throughout the day. Light bombers attacked objectives at Maknassy and Sened, and also vehicles and tanks.

Our fighters broke up a formation of fighter-bombers and forced the enemy to jettison his bombs. One enemy fighter was destroyed and two of our aircraft are missing. Our troops made further progress westwards of the coastal sector, otherwise there is nothing to report except patrol activity, says the Middle East communique. Air activity in Tunisia and Tripolitania was on a small scale. Aerodromes in Crete and targets in the south of Italy and in Sicily were attacked on Saturday night. A small formation of enemy bombers was intercepted by our night fighters near Benghazi. One enemy plane was shot down, and we lost no planes.—B.O.W.