ROMMEL’S FAILURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1943, Page 5

ROMMEL’S FAILURE

RETREAT AFTER ATTACK AXIS GAIN IN NORTH LONDON, March 6. No new developments have been reported in southern Tunisia since the reports of fighting in front of the Mareth Line. Marshal Rommel is reported to be massing his forces for another assault. A few hours before the German attack was launched on. Saturday British patrols pushed right up to the Mareth defences. It was through the work of these patrols that the German attack did not come as a sur - prise to the Bth Army. . The Algiers radio says: It is reported that the Axis forces have lost forty-five tanks and four thousand in killed, wounded and captured in their attacks against the Eighth Army. STRUGGLE FOR RIDGES RUGBY, March 8. .So far as is known, the enemy gained no advantage from the, attempt to forestall the Eighth Army s attack on the Mareth line. It is thought that the probable objective was tne Jebel Saikra ridge, jutting eastwards from the Matamata hills, and overlooking the plain. north-west of Medenine. Possession of the ridge would have been a severe threat to the British positions. A flank attack was made and after its failure on Saturday morning, the enemy attacked again early in the afternoon a few miles west of Medenine, but were i epulsed. Three hours later, they returned to the charge two miles further north, and this time gained a foothold on some high ground. The British immediately counter-attacked, and after half-an-hour’s hand-to-hand fighting, all the ridges were back in our hands. . No further developments are reported from north Tunisia. It is thought probabla that the enemy s objective in attacking in the extreme north was to prevent troops being sent to the central sector, where Allied progress might interfere with the communications behind Rommel’s front at Mareth. “The Times” expresses the opinion that Rommel is trying to compensate for lack of numbers by mobility. Rommel struck hard in the centre but was unable to use sufficient force to pain decisive results. His main problem is to decide how much energy he dare expend in his delaying attacks in front of the Mareth line, without weakening his power to defend the line itself. ENEMY’S LOST TANKS ~RUGBY, March 8. The Allied Force command post in North Africa announces: Northern Tunisia: Our aggressive patrol activity continued. Several local gains were made. In the central sector our patrol activity continued. In southern Tunisia, the enemy attack against the Eighth Army’s positions failed. Yesterday afternoon, enemy forces, including infantry and tanks were forced to withdraw towards the hills to north north-west of Denenine. It is now confirmed that thirty-three enemy tanks were completely destroyed without the loss of a single British tank during the fighting on March 6. AXIS~GAIN LONDON, March 8. The Official German News Agency claims that the Axis forces in Tunisia, in a surprise thrust, captured Cap Serra t. Reuter’s military correspondent says the loss of Cap Serrat, which is not yet officially announced, would be natural, as the British Ist Army is most likely to fall back in this sector conjointly with its withdrawal from Sedjenane. In the central area it is stated that American light forces, after capturing Pichon, have withdrawn from the town, to positions just outside it, because it is still commanded by German forces on the surrounding heights. . 1 Further back in central Tunisia Allied forces are reported to be within two miles of Gafsa. ALLIES’ AEPJAL SUCCESSES RUGBY, March 8. A North African communique .states: Air attacks on enemy sea communications were resumed by bombbers yesterday. An enemy convoy, heavily escorted by warships and aircraft, was attacked from a low level between Sicily and Tunisia. One ship was sunk, another left sinking and two more set on fire. Five of the escort aircraft were shot down. Heavy bombers attacked, the same convoy which was then circling the burning ship. Three more ships were hit and one blew up immediately. The other two were left on fire. One enemy fighter was destroyed. Other heavy bombers attacked Port Sousse. Hits were observed on a large ship at the quays, warehouses and railway yards. In the northern area, our fighters carried out offensive patrols without sighting any enemy aircraft. "In the southern area, attacks were made on the retreating enemy force. Constant patrols were maintained by our fighters, in the course of which nine enemy aircraft were destroyed. Another enemy aircraft was destroyed in this area on March 6. None of our aircraft is missing.

RUGBY, March 8. ' A very heavy and successful at-: tack by American heavy bombers on an enemy convoy bound to Tunisia from Sicily has been further described by a correspondent broadcasting from Algiers. The convoy,! he said, was protected by some halldozen warships, and about a dozen aircraft. Mitchells dived down through intense fire, and attacked from 200 feet. One bomber was hit 115 times. Several members of the crew were wounded, but carried oil and scored hits on two ships. Two ships were sunk, and four left in flames. Five escorting fighters were shot down. Later, a strong force of Fortresses, escorted by Lightnings, swept down on the convoy and blew up one ship, and set fire to two more and destroyed another enemy fighter. ROMMEL’S STRATEGY NEW YORK, March 7. “Marshal Rommel disdains territorial gains, and only seeks to keep the Allies on the defensive, knowing

that once he is beaten a great continental offensive can be mounted,” says a correspondent of the “New York Times” in North Africa. “The most dangerous phase of the German delaying action opened with Marshal Rommel’s attack against the Bth Army just when General Montgomery was preparing an offensive. It is estimated that at least 300 tanks, and the cream of the German artillery and infantry, were rushed southward to win time for strengthening the Axis fortifications in southern Europe. If Marshal Rommel this time succeeds, the Allied plans for a general attack must be postponed for at least six weeks. Even the most pessimistic Allied observers realise that Marshal Rommel’s .situation is impossible and that he will be driven from Africa sooner or later, but right now it seems likely to be later. “When Marshal Rommel’s attempt to cross the Kasserine Pass failed he was able to withdraw with losses which are believed to have been trifling compared with those of the

Allies. Indeed, Marshal Rommel captured more tanks than he lost. Consequently the Allied forces on the central front were temporarily exhausted and useless for offensive purposes. After this, Marshal Rommel flung his 10th Armoured Division and at least 13 .infantry divisions northwards against the British positions, inflicting very severe casualties and forcing us to shelve, at least temporarily, all idea, of an attack in that area.” ~ , The correspondent considers that General Montgomery will check Rommel, but doubts if the Bth Army will be able to launch an immediate counter-offensive. “Probably Rommel, after breaking off his action with General Montgomery, will withdraw northwards 'lor another crack at the Ist Army,” he adds. FRENCH STATEMENTS.

LONDON. March 7. General Giraud to-day protested against the German annexation of Alsace and Lorraine, says the Algiers radio. General Giraud said his Government rejected and did not recognise the incorporation of Alsace into the Reich. “The Vichy Government has remained silent. There is no thing to be expected from this phantom government. It no longer represents France.” p Following the publication pi Vichy’s decrees aPainst Jews in North Africa in the official Algerian. Gazette on March 2, General Giraud dismissed M. Bouni, who was head of the department responsible lor the decrees, and abolished his department, says the Morocco radio. General Giraud emphasised that Vichy s decrees were invalid in North Africa. They were gazetted without his authority. , . , . General Nogues has issued a decree reinstating French Government officials whom Vichy sacked, and also repealing the law prohibiting listening to foreign broadcasts. LATEST REPORTS (Recd. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. “The first round of the battle in southern Tunisia ended in favour of the Eighth Army. Rommel having been decisively checked, made no move yesterday to resume the attacks. He left behind many killed, wounded and captured. ’ This statement by the Algiers radio is endorsed by the Associated Press correspondent in North Africa, who said that Rommel’s attack against the Eighth Army completely failed. , . ~ , „ The Algiers radio reported chat an air reconnaissance has shown Rommel has large concentrations of men and material along the whole length of the Mareth Line, and General Montgomery is expecting a new attack soon. The radio said that Rommel’s force which the Eighth Army mawled at the week-end, was a light division. , p , French troops have captured Redeyev, which is about 30 mi les vveSo of Gafsa. The Algiers radio announce!, earlier, said that Germans in rhe Tozeur sector 30 miles south oi Redeyev, were in danger ol encirclement by the French troops, who were rapidly enveloping the town. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent imports that American light armoured forces, without casualty, completely routed a full Italian company in a mountain pass about 12 mile., nol th west of Gafsa, killed a number, took prisoner 95, and destroyed or cal tured all the guns. American patrols were obliged to wlt , hdVc l\ v Pichon westwards, in order avo 4 heavy fire from tne mils south and north of the town. The Americans came out under heavy fire. The Berlin radio claims that Axis forces, after the capture of Cap Sei rat, advanced a co ” sld^ bl a eh d n « tance westward, and alter hghui * against the British troops took c Stain position controlUng an important road junction. The }oi“ ol Cap Serrat is not yet admitted Dy th The lll “Telegraph’s” corre^^ d with the First Army says: rank lor tank, Churchills ini thei Axis; offensive proved a match lor the bopstcu new German Mark Sixes m ’’ v hich do not appear to make the scheduled speed. they find them easy encouraging feature is ' t - n | n g tillery lire is heavier than anyinmg the enemv has put up. infirm Ail rpobrts from prisoners connrm forces exploiting the original sue loiccs c i the Germans hold g advantage in the use ol mortars Ind heavy would henejjted’us in^the latest battles.