TUNISIAN FRONTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 April 1943, Page 5

TUNISIAN FRONTS

EIGHTH ARMY’S ADVANCE ROMMEL’S NEW LINE GAINS IN THE NORTH

LONDON, April 9.

The spearhead of the Bth Army has advanced beyond La Skhirra, within 50 miles of Sfax, according to the latest reports from the Tunisian front. General Montgomery is stated to have the choice of three roads of advance. One is north-east along the coast to Mahares and Sfax, another is due north to the Kairouan area, and the third is north-west to Mezzauna, an important junction on the Maknassi-Sfax Road. According' to one report United States troops have reached the Mezzouna junction, so that they are only 25 miles from the Bth Army advancing up the coast. The Germans are endeavouring to prevent a second link-up of the Allied forces The Allied forces in the El Guettar sector are consolidating their positions after the junction of Bth Army and American forces in this area. Remaining pockets of enemy resistance are being mopped up. In Northern Tunisia troops of the British Ist Army north-west of Mejez el Bab have penetrated the enemy line to a depth of four or five miles along a 10f»miles’ front. The operations in this area are a direct frontal attack aimed at freezing Megez el Bab completely. They represent a move to change this part of Tunisia from a defensive to an offensive area. Captain Sertorius, German military commentator on the Berlin radio, said: “Marshal Rommel has moved his southern .front back to a new defence zone, the right P } h ar which is the hill area east of Maknassi. No further details can be given of how the front line runs iiom here to the Mediterranean.” The German News Agency, however, stated that Marshal Rommel was now standing on a new line running from the heights south-west of Maknassi to the shores of the Noual salt marshes, 15 miles north-west of La Skhirra.

THOUSANDS MORE PRISONERS

To-day’s communique from Allied Headquarters states that pressure was maintained yesterday on the enemy in Northern and Southern Tunisia. On the Bth Army front the enemy continued to retreat, with oui forces in close pursuit. More than 9500 prisoners have been captured since the Bth Army’s advance on the Wadi Akarit front. The United States 2nd Corps continues mopping-up operations m the El Guettar region. In the last tew days many prisoners have been captured in this area. . . The Ist Armv in Northern Tunisia is continuing to advance over very difficult country and has occupied several- important tactical positions. Since April 7 more than 400 prisoners have been taken in this aiea. “The Times” states that the aim of the Allied land air forces will now be to destroy as much of the enemy s army as possible before it reaches natural defensive positions north of Sousse and then ensure that its stay there is short. AMERICAN , PROGRESS.

LONDON, April 9.

Algiers radio says: American forces are pushing out from Maknassi. They are reported to be attacking German lines around IVlezzouna, about 15 miles eastwards of Maknassi, on the road to Mahaies. The Americans in this area are only 25 miles from the Eighth Army, advancing up the coast. A link-up would endanger all Axis forces remaining in a vast area to the southward and south-eastward. The Vichy radio says: Ihe new American attack in the direction ol Kairwan is increasing m violence. Converging assaults have be e n launched from the Ousseltia Valley, Pichon and Fondouk. East of lyiaivnassi the Americans are maintaining an attack, thus they are endangering Marshal Rommel’s rear.

FIRST ARMY’S PRESSURE

LONDON, April 9. Algiers radio says: The First Army pierced Axis lines m the Medjez LI Bab area, after which it continued to advance and mopped up several pockets of resistance hampering its progress. „ , . . Vichy radio stated: General A.ndei - son has again taken the initiative, having resumed the offensive soutn of Cape Serrat. The Germans theie are stubbornly resisting. A Reuter’s correspondent with tne First Army in the Medjez El Bab area says: The Germans, in some sectors, are hastily pulling back from mountain positions which they have held for months. Our advance is progressing satisfactorily. The Hrst Army’s casualties are not heavy, but the Germans suffered severely from our intense accurate fire.

GERMAN ADMISSIONS

LONDON, April 9

The Algiers radio reports: Axis forces are in full headlong retreat from the Eighth Army. Allied planes are inflicting heavy losses. The Zurich correspondent ol the Exchange Telegraph Agency says: A Berlin military spokesman adopted a pessimistic view of operations in Tunisia. The spokesman said: A decisive success on the part of the Eighth Army is undeniable. The consequences of General Montgomery s break-through demand earnest consideration. The correspondent adds: The Propaganda Ministry has informed the newspaper editors to prepare thenreaders for this: “Axis forces in Tunisia, because of the Allies having superior numbers and equipment, might, be forced to positions from which escape might become increasingly difficult, and finally probably impossible.”

ALLIED GRIP TIGHTENS

(Reed. 11.40 a.rn.) LONDON, Apr. 9. The. Allies are relentlessly tightening their grip on the Axis forces m Tunisia. The .Algiers radio to-night declared that the First Army had simultaneously advanced, bringing it considerably nearer Tunis. The Americans are continuing their advance from El Guettar, mopping up the enemy. They are also advancing north of Maknassi. The German News Agency admits the evacuation of Pichon under British and French Pressure, winch suggests the development ol the Allied drive towards the coastal plain in the direction of Susa, involving a threat to the attempted concentration of Rommel’s forces to the northward. , . . Algiers radio reported that Axis positions in the region of Mateur had been pierced in great depth. The latest reports placed die British spearheads half-way between Oudref and Mahares. The vanguards found the roads along which the Afrika Korps were struggling blocked with shatered enemy tanks and vehicles, providing evidence of the effect of the intense aerial bombardments which incessantly plastered the Axis line of retreat.

LATEST REPORTS. (Recd. 11.50 p.m.) 3 4 u The Germans are reported to be retiring from Mahares and from Mezzbuna 20 * miles from Maknassy, on the Maknassy-Sfax railway, where American pressure is increasing. The German News Agency said there had been tough fighting at Oussaltia and Bouarada, and also at Medjcze Bab, and on the coast area in the neighbourhood of Cap Serrat. The News Agency admitting the abandonment of Pichon, says: The Axis firmly maintained mountain positions north and south of Pichon, where the Allies are attacking in order to support the British thrust in the vicinity of Medjezelbab Beja, aiming to tie down the Axis forces. The Algiers radio states that the Americans from Maknassy reached Mezzouna, and added that FrencnAmerican forces operating east of Maknassy, are on the point of joining up with the Allied forces coming from the south. . The Associated Press Algiers correspondent reports that the United States Second Corps is mopping up east of El Guettar and has taken 1300 Axis prisoners.

ANGLO-U.S.A. FORCES MEET

LONDON, April 8. The first full story of the meeting of the Bth Army and the Americans in Tunisia has been received in London from a 8.8. C. correspondent, Frank Gillard, who was only a lew miles away from the actual scene when the forces joined up. The correspondent was following the Bth Army’s advance when he received news that the two forces had met. Some sort of a rearguard action was going on in the hills to the right, and the sound of shell-lire could be plainly heard. There blazing Axis vehicles were seen and hundreds oi enemy troops were streaming down from‘the hills to surrender. Suddenly a Jeep carrying an American sergeant and two French soldiers came into view. Thev were the first through after the union of the two forces, and they were almost speechless with excitement. The correspondent went on. and coming oyer the hill saw a tank in front of him. His party was not sure ol its identity until they were greeted with “Hello, old timer,” by the tank commander, a Kentucky man. As they went on they were greeted by American troops, who, in reply to their wave, yelled at them and gave the “V” sign. The actual meeting ol the forces occurred when a patrol of the Bth Army, consisting of armoured cais of a famous cavalry regiment, saw another patrol moving from the hills. At first the American and British patrols were suspicious of each other, but soon the British commander went forward and shook hands with the American commander. They spoke a few words of greeting and went on to the north together in pursuit of the retreating Axis forces. Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headuarters, referring to the meeting of the Bth Army’s left flank with the Americans from El Guettar, states: “This historic link-up xas opened a new phase of the North African campaign. The Allies are now on the threshold of the successful completion of their first great offensive action. They, for the first time, have a direct land supply route from the Atlantic to the Red Sea. The oth Army has now shortened its line of communication by several thousand miles. Although, the sea route thiougn the Mediterranean is not yet comnletely clear, the land route along the southern shores has been freed for Allied use. The Bth Army has achieved a strategic gain as great as an immediate military success.

AERIAL OPERATIONS

RUGBY, April 9

Very bad weather somewhat restricted air operations in Tunisia yesterday, says a correspondent. Ihe retreat of the Germans and Italians continued, with the British in clospursuit. As the total of prisoners captured since the fall of the Mareth Line approaches five figures, the total taken by the Eighth Army since General Alexander assumed command, now numbers one hundred thousand. , . , General Alexander, speaking to correspondents to-day, expressed pride in the fighting spirit of the British, American and French troops under his command and paid tribute to the contribution of the Second United States Corps towards the victory of the Eighth Army. The American Corps is now mopping up in territory already gained, bringing in prisoners and a great quantity of material. Yesterday, our Desert aircraft attacked enemy forces moving north from Mezzouna and Mehares, causing considerable destruction and disorganisation. The attack by Desert bombers has been so heavy in the last two days that 130 vehicles have been destroyed and 200 damaged. Spitfires patrolling the southern sector met practically no opposition, but Hurricanes engaged a formation or Junkers, inflicting damage on the enemy. Our fighters beat off, with damage to enemy machines, three small-scale attacks against our advanced troops. Despite the weather, fighter sweeps and patrols continued from dawn to dusk over the whole battle area. Our fighter bombers attacked railway communications in Sicily yesterday, says a Malta message. They also successfully strafed trains, and scored near misses on a railway bridge. Polish fighter pilots, now taking part in the battle of Tunisia, recently scored three successes, two of them being by the Polish ace, Pilot Squadron Leader Shalsi, who has 11 German aircraft destroyed to his credit. SITUATION REVIEWED.

RUGBY, April 9

The Tunisian situation, as seen in London, is that while in the extreme south Americans, French, and perhaps some British troops are clearing the Jebel Chemai area, the Bth i Army is moving through the coastal [gap across the Mezzounv.-Maharas | road and railway. The enemy is get- | ting north by the coast road through Sfax, by the other main road due north towards Kairouan, and any other available means. In the north, the British attack north-eastward from the Mejez Munchar line progressed half a dozen miles into the south side of the enemy salient beI tween Medez and Sejanane. ! The rapidity with which the Bth Army mounted the attack on Akarit prevented the enemy concentrating I all his best troops and armour there Ito meet it. This was because most I of the German ti;oops and tanks had I been sent to prevent the. Americans I advancing against the flank. j An account of the last fortnight’s j fighting shows how this was the culI mination of a process by which Rommel was forced out of the southern defences in Tunisia. The Akarit hills were taken so swiftly the enemy was

unable to pull back the Germans from the American front in time for the counter-attack, which therefore was made only at half strength and failed. The Bth Army went .straight through, and Rommel had to withdraw from both the British and Americans as quickly, as he could.

FIGHTING FRENCH. N.Z. FLANK PROTECTED. [N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.] NEAR GABES, April 8. Among the forces under General Freyberg’s command for the “left hook” movement which he led through the Tebag Gap was a Fighting French column under the distinguished French leader, General le Clerc. These men are part of the force General le Clerc led for 2000 miles across the Sahara from Lake Chad to link up with the Bth Army in southern Tripolitania. The French soldiers are men so innured to the desert and its hardships that they have long since ceased to find them anything remarkable. The chief anxiety has been to get at grips with the enemy. ■ This they have done with the most satisfactory results for themselves and most unsatisfactory results for the Germans and Italians on several recent occasions. A majority of the rank and file of these French forces are natives of Chad Province. They are very similar in appearance to the famous Senegalese coloured troops, and possessing much of their militant fibre. The officers invariably are Frenchmen, as also are the majority of the n.c.o.’s. Officers and men alike wear the übiquitous battle dress, but with the distinctive French fez in the case of the men. Many of the officers are generously bearded. This Fighting French force has a tremendous morale, which has been heightened by the successful operations in which they have been engaged under General Freyberg. When the New Zealanders and British armour and artillery, comprising a force to breach Tebag Gap, left Medeinie on March 12 and proceeded to their assembly point, in the desert, near El Chemal, the Fighting French were already ahead of them, and the French carried out two actions, the first at Ksarrhilane, and then one at El Outid, which cleared the enemy on the route of the New Zealand and British advance. At Ksarrhilane the French were considerably assisted by R.A.F. low-fly-ing aircraft which played havoc among German armoured forces opposing them, while at El Outid New Zealand sappers assisted the French in dealing with minefields and obstructions, after the French had successfully dislodged the enemy from gun positions. As General Freyberg s force moved un through Dahar, the Fighting French co-operated, they providing a protective flank screen, and they continued this role after the break through the Tebaga Gap, and during the advance on Gabes. . During the fighting for the Gap, which began on March 21 and ended with a victorious thrust on March 26, the French operated in rough and hilly country on the flanks, where they engaged in sharp brushes with the Italians and the Germans, capturing prisoners and equipment. Among rough arid £ Ui ~ lies and djebels, during this stage of the advance, they were operating m difficult country, possessing the advantage of having been carefully prepared, and they played an important nart in the success of the whole difficult operation. Many native soldiers forming the bulk of this French column had never seen the sea till they joined the Bth Army in Tripolitania, and they were among the enthusiastic bathers when the pace of the pursuit temporarily slackened and many men of the Bth Army were able to visit beaches. Another section ol the Fighting French in the Middle East is comprised of men drawn from the French colonies of Oceania, and particularly from New Caledonia, where New Zealand troops are now stationed.

NAVAL BATTLE

LONDON, April 9

There is speculation as to the possibility of a naval battle in the Mediterranean. The Paris radio says that informed circles in Berlin expect a big naval battle. There are indications that the British Fleet off the Tunisian coast will have to break through a formidable barrage of Üboats before it will be able to meet the powerful Italian Navy. The Italians have only one aircraft-carrier. The results will be fatal, for them it the British Navy attacked their fleet in the Straits of Sicily.