N. AFRICAN FRONTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 April 1943, Page 5

N. AFRICAN FRONTS

“SATISFACTORY PROGRESS”

GEN. EISENHOWER’S INSPECTION

UNITY OF ALLIED FORCES

NEW YORK, April 2.

“Fresh forces under General Alexander, with effective air support, are continuing to make satisfactory progress in the task of smashing the Axis from Africa,” said LieutenantGeneral Dwight Eisenhower on returning from conferences with Generals Montgomery and Alexander. General Eisenhower inspected the Mareth Line. He said every American had the right to feel proud of the progress made. Americans shared the pride of the British Eighth Army’s achievement in driving Marshal Rommel from the Mareth positions. He added that the Allied air forces had produced a fighting machine of “the highest morale, great efficiency, and complete determination to finish the job.” The situation now permitted the disclosure of certain dispositions, said General Eisenhower. The elements forming General Alexander’s 18th Army Group were: — (1) The British Ist Army, under Lieutenant-General K, A. Anderson, in the north, in which were incorporated a French corps under General Koeltz.

(2) The Americans, under Lieu-tenant-General J. S. Patton, in the centre. They were recently regrouped and were no longer part of the Ist Army. They included four divisions which had been in combat—-the Ist Armoured Division, the Ist, 9th, and 38th Infantry Divisions. (3) The Eighth Army, including the New Zealand Division, the Indian Division, and two British infantry divisions.

“The Eighth Army has a record too brilliant to need any praise,” said General Eisenhower. “It has chased one of the enemy’s most powerful forces across the desert, and is still full of energy for the final blow in Tunisia. We are fighting this campaign as Allies. Every British and American citizen has the right to draw pride and inspiration from the record this united force is making for itself.

“Many members of the British Ist Army have been in action almost since the first day of the North African landing. They have gone through the hardships of Winter in the mountains and come out full of high spirits and determination.

“During the first drive into Tunisia we threw every American available into the line to help the Ist Army. These American units are now regrouped and fighting as an entity under General Alexander.

“The Allied ground, air and naval forces are co-operating in the single end of destroying the enemy. The Navy and Air Force have achieved remarkable success. Their work has been of inestimable value to General Alexander.”

PRESSURE ON ENEMY

(Recd. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON. April 4

There is a comparative lull at present on the Tunisian front, but terrific fighting may at any time flare up along the 200 miles battle line. Quietude veils intense Allied preparations for drives aimed either to annihilate the Axis forces or compel their evacuation, giving British and American sea and air power further opportunities for the destruction of the enemy. The only major land activities in the past 24 hours have been the Moroccan troops capture of the town of Cap Serrat, 40 miles west of Bizerta, and an American drive in the El Guettar area. So far there are no reports of German resistance at Cap Serrat. Berlin radio previously announced that the Germans had captured mountain positions at Jefna. This is tantamount to an admission of retreat, because Jefna is 20 miles east of Sedjenane and ten miles east of Mateur, and has always been in German hands.

Dispatches from the front line emphasise that the occupation of Cap Serrat is valuable because it anchors the Allied line to the sea coast. The Germans are apparently retreating hastily, leaving ammunition dumps and supplies undestroyed. General Patton’s American Second Corps, despite the difficulties of the terrain and extensive minefields, are persisting with the drive from El Guettar to link with General Montgomery. Algiers radio to-night reported they had advanced, killing many Germans, taking prisoners, and destroying or capturing a large number of tanks. t „ The radio added that Axis forces had launched powerful tank-sup-ported counter-attacks but that these were all repulsed, after which the Americans gained ground.

VALUABLE CAPTURES

Reuter reports that the Americans captured more than 30 mortars, which are valuable prizes because mortars are one of the most deadly and most accurate weapons the Germans are using against infantry. When the Germans called in the Luftwaffe the Americans had the further joy of seeing nearly a whole Stuka formation fall from the sky. The Luftwaffe threw in about 20 Stukas, which American-manned Spitfires intercepted ten miles south of El Guettar. Fourteen German fighters were in the vicinity, but only one attempted to support the Stukas and he was driven off. The Spitfires, in a running fight, knocked down 14 Stukas, two American pilots shooting down three each. Despite the bad weather the Allies elsewhere are probing the Axis lines and regrouping. The Germans, nervous of the Allied thrusts which threaten to infiltrate from the mountains to the coastal plain, are either counter-attacking or heavily bombarding the Allied positions. The French in the Pichon area have repulsed two tank attacks. Forecasting early Allied offensives, the German News Agency says the British at Medjezelbab have completed regrouping after the inclusion of the First Infantry Division, which hitherto had not appeared on the northern front, and that they have been considerably strengthening then artillery. . ~ . e The News Agency also repoits heavy swaying battles east ot Maknassi, where the Americans are attempting to debouch to the plains. It adds that the Eighth Army .has carried out additional concentrations in the Oudref area. British assault divisions pushed spearheads towards Rommel’s defences after clearing extensive minefields. # The possibility of an

ATTEMPTED “DUNKIRK,”

is apparently exercising the minds of the Axis troops. Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army refers to five captured German infantrymen independently asking what the British Dunkirk was like. One inquired whether the German bombing there was anything like the Germans are now getting. . Military commentators in London suggest it is too early to expect any

Axis “Dunkirk” at present, because the bulk of the Axis troops have escaped from Mareth and, despite their casualties, the Afrika Korps are still a hard nut, although the Allied nutcrackers are steadily if not spectacularly exerting pressure;- Nevertheless as the Axis defence area diminishes it is easier to defend, at least until adequate air support for the field armies is possible. There arc yet no signs that such a danger point has been reached, and until Rommel is too cramped he will continue fighting delaying actions. Commenting on British naval reforcements in the Mediterranean, London observers are speculating whether the Italian Fleet .will attempt to assist the evacuation. The Rome correspondent of a Madrid newspaper says Italians believe the fleet will be used “when the hour has struck.” . „ . , A Vichy newspaper infers similarly, saying the fate of Tunisia will be decided between Naples and Bizerta. After a visit to the front, including Gabes, General Giraud said; The Axis will have to do a Dunkirk. There will soon be lots of white caps floating in the Mediterranean. We are on the road to victory. ’ A Columbia Broadcasting System broadcaster said Axis troops aie increasingly deserting in significant numbers. Austrians in the northern sector and Italians in the south aie coming over, waving our sate conduct leaflets.

WITH THE AMERICANS

ENEMY’S STRONG RESISTANCE

LONDON, April 4

The grim struggle ahead in Tunisia for the passes in the mountain barrier to the coastal plain is emphaised by correspondents. In the southern part of the barrier United States forces are reported to be moving ahead slowly east of El Guettar. According to a report from one correspondent sappers made a gap in the German minefields, and the American tanks went through. The Germans immediately counter-attacked with heavy tank forces, and the American tanks withdrew. In Central Tunisia United States forces are fortifying positions in the Fonndouk Pass area. One agency report says the American forces in this area have pulled back slightly. Other parts of the Tunisian front are described as “relativly quiet.” The United Press says: “The American tanks and infantry attacked the main German defence line in soudi and central Tunisia, in an effort to break through to the coastal plain and smash Rommel’s strong rearguards defending the Wadi Akarit, 20 miles north of Gabes. The American thrust followed a German counter-attack on Friday, east of El Guettar, which petered out alter three out of 32 tanks were destroyed. The United States thrust is apparently designed to hit Rommel’s flank in order to assist the Sth Army, which has made contact with the Afrika Korps along the formidable Wadi Akorit. One American general commented: ‘We are in the position of a football team with 10 yards—lo rough yards—to go for a touch down.’ ” . „

The American Associated I ress says: “Marshal Rommel, with his best armour blunted and broken against the unyielding American lines, is trying night aerial attacks, using four-engined bombers for the first time in this sector.” Reuter’s correspondent at El Guettar says: “The Germans ussd a considerable number of tanks in a complete unsuccessful counter-attack against American troops advancing along the Gafsa-Gabes road. The attack was made at a point near the junction of this road with the Kebili road. The Americans secured a valuable High observation post on the south flank of the Jebel Berda, and brought destructive fire to bear against three German batteries. This caused the Germans to mass artillery to defend their positions east of El Guettar and thus hinder the linking up of the Americans and the Btii Army. There arc signs that the Germans are apprehensive about the situation on the Pichon-Fonndouk sector, which would be an excellent starting point for a drive towards Kairouan, and they have strengthened the defending forces there.” The correspondent of the British United Press with the Americans east of El Guettar reported that crack German troops entrenched in a labyrinth of underground fortifications on a hillside on one sector were still barring the American advance, but the encirclement threat to these Germans is growing. American infantry smashed through the Bimrabott Pass, 14 miles eastward of El Guettar, to join the Bth Army forces moving westward along the GabesGafsa road.

AXIS TANK LOSSES

LONDON, April 4

The communique from Allied Headquarters in North Africa states that there has been patrol activity by the Eighth Army. In the area east of El Guetar two United States corps gained further ground in one successful attack in which a number of the enemy were killed and prisoners taken. More than 20 mortars were captured. It has now been established that a considerable number of German tanks were destroyed or damaged by artillery lire in this sector. North and east of Sedjenanc the British Ist Army is continuing to make progress. French forces repulsed two local attacks in the Pichon area in which the enemy employed tanks. Describing air activity, the communique says that fighters were very active in Northern and Central Tunisia, and many raids by enemy fighter pilots were driven off. In the central sector Spitfires on patrol encountered Junkers 87’s and shot down 14 of them. Dust storms limited air activity in the southern sector, but fighter patrols made raids and fight-er-bombers attacked an enemy airfield. Four Allied aircraft are missing. but the pilot of one is safe.

FRENCH PROGRESS

RUGBY. April 4

A French North Africa communique states: North of Sedjenane, our troops continued the methodical, advance and mopping up operations. Cap Serrat was occupied. In the central sector, there was patrol activity. South-west of Pichon, our artillery repelled two enemy local attacks, which were supported by tanks. In the southern sector, our units are in close contact with the enemy, and there was intense patrol activity by both sides. One of our patrols captured prisoners. Serrat on the northern coast of Tunisia, is about 35 miles west of Bizerta.

FIRST ARMY’S PROGRESS

LONDON, April 3. In Northern Tunisia the British Ist Army is making good progress towards Bizerta and is now about 12

miles east of Sedjenane. The Ist Army is also pushing northwards. It has occupied heights commanding a long stretch of the Sedjenane-Mateur Road. The British column moving up the Cap Serrat Road is still meeting with some resistance. The British United. Press reports that Austrian Mountain troops in North Tunisia are deserting to the British lines. The first batch of 20 carried “safe conduct” leaflets dropped from Royal Air Force aeroplanes. The British advance continues north and east of Sedjenane. Since Tuesday a number of important points have been captured, and the enemy bases, particularly those in the Medjez el Bab area, are now threatened, while the thieat to Allied bases has been lessened. These operations have been carried out in bad weather, with ceaseless ram and thick mud. AXIS FORCES MERGE ?

GERMAN CLAIMS

LONDON, April 3. In announcing that Rommel’s forces had joined von Arnim ,s, the German Official News Agency claimed that the Axis had “successfully retreated to central Tunisia and that British attempts to encircle the Afrika Korps had failed. The news agency stated that General Montgomery and the British and Americans repeatedly V-ied to prevent the union, but Marshal Rommel, anticipating the Allies ■joint operations, disrupted General Montgomery’s .preparations against the Mareth Line by a vigorous attack and, under cover of strong rearruards, reached the area between LI Hamnia and Gabes with all his stoics and arms. _ , , Commenting on a German state ment that Rommel had linked up with von Arnim, the “Daily Express believes that the shortened Axis line will run from Sousse through Pont au Fahs to Bizerta. “While the leaders of the retreat may have reached this line, only a small part of the Afrika Korps proper is there. Rommel is still defending the western flank, to a point near Gabes. Reuter’s military correspondent says: “The Berlin announcement that Rommel has joined up with von Arnim is sheer propaganda bluff, lhe German commanders’ forces formed a continuous line when Rommel retired behind the Mareth Line. There is no indication that Rommel has withdrawn the bulk of his forces any great distance north of. the Wadi Akarit where the enemy is m such strength as to require an attack on a considerate scale to dislodge him. The encmy has also taken precautions to protect his left flank with foices which are able to put up stiff resistance against the American columns aiming lor the coast and ready to intercept his main body when he begins his final withdrawal northwards. Gripped tightly in the steadily closing Allied vice, Rommel and von Arnim’s armies are at present on the defensive along a 200-mile front, from Sedjenane of Oudref. Considerable speculation has arisen regarding a German military spokesman’s assertion that General Montpomery would not be allowed to make contact with the main Nazi forces. The spokesman said: “The Allies in South Tunisia, in spite of the terrific pressure, have not yet come m contact with Marshal Rommel’s mam forces, nor will they succeed in doing so.” Some quarters interpret this as meaning that Rommel does not intend to fight before reaching North Tunisia or that his forces will withdraw for Africa. Whether or not it indicates an attempt at an Axis “Dunkirk,” which, apparently, is the only alternative to another “Stalingrad, correspondents emphasise that it is most unlikely that preparations for such a move will escape the Allied air reconnaissance. The possibility ol an attempted evacuation is so obvious that with aerial superiority, which the Allies possess over a wide area, of the Mediterranean and surrounding coasts, and efforts to take off enormous numbers of troops by ship would undoubtedly be observed and would give the Allied air forces the chance for which they are certainly praying. . , + n The Allies may aim to destroy the German flank in the neighbourhood of El Guetar before pushing northwards, but on Friday night it was authoritatively denied at Allied Headquarters that the Americans at El Guetar had linked up with the Bth Army. On the contrary, it is believed that"the forces are about 40 miles apart. Dispatches from Allied headquarters state that the first stage of the campaign, which aims at destroying Marshal Rommel’s forces, has not ended, and that the present pause was to be expected after the Bth Army’s nine days of bitter, bloody fighting, and the Allied troops’ long advance over difficult country.

AERIAL ENCOUNTERS

MESSINA ATTACKED

RUGBY, April 3.

A Middle East air communique states: “Heavy bombers attacked Messina on Thursday night. Bomb bursts were seen near the ferry terminus. At dawn on Friday a second attack on Messina was carried out from a height of 50 feet. Direct hits were scored on the ferry terminus and on a ferry boat. Heavy damage was inflicted also upon the ferry terminus and on one ferry boat at San Gionvanni, A Junkers 52 was shot down over the straits of Messina. From these and other operations all our aircraft returned safely.” The Admiralty states that during operations off Tunisia an enemy aircraft was shot down by the trawler Fluellen.

BRITISH CONVOY BOMBED

LONDON, April 4. The British radio says Axis bombers and torpedo aeroplanes on Friday night attacked a strongly protected giant British convoy west of Algiers, resulting in the probable destruction of two transports totalling 14.000 lons, and also a destroyer which was left motionless and listing.

AMERICAN ACTIVITIES

WASHINGTON, April 3

The U.S. War Department in an announcement, emphasises the part that American aircraft are playing in Africa. For example, American planes made 1399 sorties on Friday alone. It is explained that a sortie is a single flight by a single plane. U.S. planes on that day attacked and jammed a column of Axis vehicles. They destroyed 350 vehicles, inflicting many casualties.

TWO-TO-ONE LOSSES

RUGBY. April 4

Since the start of the offensive on March 19 the Axis has been steadily losing well over double the number of aircraft lost by the Allies, says a correspondent attached to Allied Headquarters. Up to and including April 2 172 Axis aircraft had been destroyed as against 75 of our own. Only on one day have we lost more than the enemy—eight to six. The highest score was on March 24, when 26 enemy aircraft were destroyed for the loss of seven. The best day's average was on March 26, when it reached ten to one.

SITUATION REVIEWED.

ROMMEL’S OBJECTIVES.

LONDON, April 3

The general situation in Tunisia was described in a broadcast by a correspondent attached to the Allied forces headquarters: “The Bth Army is reforming for the next blow. Mean-

while Rommel has two main objectives. He wants to prevent a junction of the Sth and Ist Armies as long as he can, which is why the fighting east of Gafsa is so bitter. Here the 2nd American Corps is pressing on towards the coast towards the Bth Army. Rommel has diverted considerable strength to hold up the Americans, and he is making the way very difficult for them, with dense minefields and with the greatest resolution. Another factor in the situation is that Rommel cannot afford to let the British Ist Army make progress across the coastal plain to the sea anywhere if he can help it. Rommel holds the ridge of mountains running north and south, forming' a barrier to the coastal plain, and he has done his best to block up all the passes through which we might break. That is why there has also been tough fighting at the Fonndouk pass, which the Americans captured the other day, though they have not yet taken the ground south of it. It is the same in the Ousseltia valley, where the 19th French Corps pushed across the valley. They have advanced outposts four miles east of Ousseltia. It is a bitter struggle, with the nut-crackers of the Bth and Ist Armies squeezing Rommel, and Rommel determined to keep the coastal plain open as long as he possibly can.”

ADVANCE REPORTED

“Advanced units of the Bth Army have contacted Afrika Korps rearguards 27 miles north of Gabes. Further north the main body of the Afrika Korps continues its rapid retreat, hammered by the Allied Am forces.” This statement of the present position in Tunisia was given by the Algiers radio, which adds: “The Germans are reported to be holding large tank reserves to hurl against the Bth Army at the right moment. Rommel in the meantime is making a determined effort to keep the Ist Army and the Bth Army well apart by sowing wide minefields.” Saturday’s North African communique stated: “Patrol activity continued yesterday on the whole Tunisian battle front. Further progress was made in the north, where our patrols successfully engaged and inflicted casualties on enemy patrols. Air operations were restricted by the weather. Over Tunisia attacks on eneim 7 troops and motor transpoi t north of Gabes were continued yesterday by light bombers, with fighter bombers. The enemy airfield at La Fauconniere was bombed twice. Fighters carried out offensive sweeps and patrols. Six enemy fighters were destroyed during the clay. Four ol our aircraft are missing from all these operations.” British and New Zealand troops m the vanguard of the Bth Army still hold the initiative and active patrolling is reported along the whole front, states the correspondent of the British United Press at Allied Headquarters. General Montgomery may again be resorting to envelopment in order to eject Rommel from the Wadi Akarit,' which is the first water obstacle the ’Bth Army has encountered during the whole campaign. The Bth Army is now squaring up to Rommel’s next defensive line which, some sources claim, lies 25 miles north of Gabes. 4 ~ . Reuter's correspondent reports that there was no Axis air activity against. Allied troops on Thursday. During Allied offensive patrols north of Gabes fighters did not sight a single enemy aeroplane all day.

BRITISH NAVAL STRENGTH

LONDON, April 3

“The Royal Navy’s striking power in the Mediterranean has been reinforced both east and west of the Sicilian Channel, to meet any attempt Marshal Rommel makes at a ‘Dunkirk’,” says a British Unitea Press correspondent with the British fleet in the Mediterranean. “It is impossible to disclose what, reinforcements have arrived, but warships, guns, and manpower, which were unavailable during the Alarnem to Tripoli advance, have been added to the forces which are ready to strike if an evacuation materialises. “Some officers envisage a na )'* al pincers attack from both sides of the Sicilian Channel, combined with heavy aerial attacks and thrusts from speedy British and American motor torpedo-boats and submarines. The enemy possesses similar forces, but the distance to Europe favours the Allies.”

ENEMY TANKER SUNK

RUGBY. April 4. The Admiralty announces that a large, valuable enemy tanker, lull/ laden with supplies for the Axis forces in Tunica, was sunk m the Mediterranean by a submarine, under the command of Lieut. L. M. IvlcGcoch, R.N. The tanker, which was accompanied by a strong escort ol four destroyers, was intercepted off Trapani, north-west Sicily, lhe submarine made the attack from close range, and hit the tanker with three torpedoes. A heavy, but ineffective counter-attack was made by the destroyers. , „ A’ submarine, under command. of Lieut. R. J- Clutebuck, R.N., carried out a bombardment of oil storage tanks at Imperia. Northern Italy. Shore batteries replied to the submarine’s fire, but without effect.

ITALY FEARS INVASION

LONDON. April 2. After the visit to Italy of Admiral Doenitz, the German naval chief. Mussolini instituted two naval commands, presumably in order to meet the Allied threat to Tunisia, states the “Daily Mail.” The Rome radio announced that Squadron-Admiral Carlo Bergamini has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Naval Battle Forces, and Squadron Admiral Eduardo Sommigli has been appointed Commander-in-Chief ot the naval forces protecting sea traffic. This announcement was followed bv a nation-wide “pep” talk. The announcer said: “The fatherland is endangered. Our enemies are earnestly preparing for the conquest of Italy. Italians, show your mettle in misfortune. You are confronted by Croatian and Albanian guerrillas and powerful British and American armies. The supreme test will not be long delayed.” The Romo radio last night broadcast for the Italian War Office an order calling up all previously rejected eighteen, nineteen and twemy-year-old men for a new medical examination.

GIRAUD’S APPEAL TO ITALIANS

LONDON, April 4. The Algiers radio says a spokesman for General Giraud. in addressing Italians, said: “The Fascist Party sold Italy to Hitler. The hour has struck when you must lay down your arms. Decide now. Past errors can be rectified. The peace which we will propose will be honourable. Neither Goering’s speeches nor the heroism of your sons will be able to defend you against the thousands of bombs preparing to raid you and your industries and transport. Everything that gives bread to Italians will be destroyed.”