LATE MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 March 1943, Page 6

LATE MESSAGES

TUNISIAN CAMPAIGN (Recd. 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 4. German attacks in the Sedjenane sector in Tunisia forced the Allied forces to withdraw the line 4 miles. Reuter’s correspondent in North Africa says: Axis infantry attacked in considerable strength from the north-east towards Sedjenane, and took severe punishment. Confused fighting is still going on in the vicinity of the railway station of this tiny village, with the British battling to throw back the Italians and Germans. The British counter-attack-ed all yesterday in the region of

north-east of Bela. Fighting is continuing as the British force northwards towards the Mateur-Beja Road. American patrols pushing southwards and eastwards in pursuit of the Germans falling back from Feriana, at last contacted them at a point three miles below Faid, while Italian patrols were met, and dispersed near Moulares, about 30 miles west of Gafsa. About for to five hundred Axis infantry attacked the Eighth Army elements, six miles east of Mareth, but were repulsed.

The Exchange Telegraph’s Algiers correspondent says that recent fighting in Tunisia has plainly shown the edge was taken off the German morale. Signs of discouragement can be observed, probably due to the heavy losses, and disappointment over the withdrawal, after the advance well into Allied territory. ( RADIO “MARTYR” NEW YORK, March 4. ' The Office of • War Information picked up a Tokio broadcast paying tribute to a Japanese short-wave propagandist who talked himself to ; death, denouncing Mr Roosevelt. The Tokio radio said that the r microphone martyr harangued Mr . Roosevelt nightly, and overstrained ; himself. His condition steadily got I worse and he finally succumbed. The radio added that he died a happy death.

RAIDS IN PACIFIC RUGBY, March 4. A United States Navy communique states: “Dauntless dive-bombers, with Wildcat escort, attacked enemy positions at Munda (New Georgia),

starting many fires. All the planes returned. In the South Pacific on Wednesday, Liberator heavy bombers attacked Japanese positions in the area of Kahiki, Buin, Ballale, and Villa. The results were unobserved. All the planes returned.”