First Tough Job To Storm High Ground

Evening Star, Issue 24482, 17 April 1943, Page 5

First Tough Job To Storm High Ground

Overlooked By Axis

(British OliiciaJ Wireless.J (Bee- noon.) RUGBY, April 16. The latest North African communique states: On the First Army front the enemy fought fiercely throughout the clay for the high ground north of Medjez el Bab, but all his counter-attacks were eventually beaten off and the high ground remains in our hands. The French forces also met strong opposition in their sector, but took more prisoners. On the Eighth Army front patrol activity continued along the Enfldaville Line. The Allied forces in Tunisia are advancing in all sectors, reports the Algiers radio. The Afrika Korps was encountered in the Enfldaville area on', the line to Pont du Fahs. The Allied air operations have reached a pitch seldom seen. The Vichy radio says the First Army, after an attack supported by tanks, made a fresh advance in one sector. The Allies are now meeting well-knit Axis forces on a narrow front. Their progress is seriously impeded. There are three roads leading to Tunis—one along the coast which is marshy and difficult to negotiate, and the other two from Medjez el Bab and Bou Arada via Pont du Fahs. They are commanded by heights dominated by the Axis but they are easily negotiable for mechanised forces. The Allies air offensive, however, surpasses anything thus far experienced. It is mainly aimed at cutting off the Axis supplies from across.the Mediterranean. The Axis forces will have to fight hard and courageously to hold their positions. In fierce fighting l for high ground north of Medjez el Bab enemy counter-attacks were eventually beaten off after a 2,000feet peak twice changed hands, states a correspondent. The heights in this area are seven miles north of Medjez el Bab and make good defensive positions commanding the approaches to Terburba. The Allied line on the left flank of the Eighth Army has been advanced somewhat by the capture by the French of Jebel Sefsouf, which is 32 miles due west of Enfldaville, 17 miles south of Pont du Fahs, and 12 south-east of Jebel Mansour.