SFAX OCCUPIED

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 April 1943, Page 5

SFAX OCCUPIED

ROMMEL CONTINUES RETREAT

Bth ARMY REACH COASTAL PLAIN

GAINS ON ALL FRONTS

LONDON, April 11. The port of Sl'ax, in south-eastern Tunisia, was occupied by the Bth Army at 8 a.m. on Saturday, according to a wireless announcement from Allied Headquarters in North Africa. Spearheads of the Bth Army are now fanning out into the coastal plain north of Sl'ax. The Luftwaffe is reported to have abandoned already the airfield of La Sauconmere, 15 miles north-west of Sfax, the most important enemy air base in central Tunisia.

Three Allied columns converging in an arc 20 miles west of Kairouan are pressing through the central Tunisian mountain passes in a bid to cut off Marshal Rommel’s line of retreat. They are trying to close the 30 miles broad Kairouan-Sousse corridor before the Axis forces can slip through to the Tunis-Bizerta bridgehead. Axis reports say that British tanks and infantry have joined Lieu-tenant-General G. S. Patton’s American forces for this new offensive, which has already made advances east of Pichon, Ousseltia. and Fonndouk.

The latest news of the Ist Army’s progress in northern Tunisia was given in Saturday’s Allied communique, which reported further advances in the face of considerable opposition over very difficult country, in the area between Mejez el Bab and Munchar. An advance of 10 miles had been made since April 6. To-day’s communique from Allied Headquarters in North Africa states that by last night the Bth Army had made considerable progress north of Sfax. In the Fonndouk Pass area American and French forces pushing down towards Kairouan encountered stiff opposition. In the Mejez el Bab area the Ist Army has made further progress and taken more prisoners. An American correspondent at Algiers says the Bth Army is now 27 miles north of Sl'ax and is advancing practically without opposition. Little of the German army remains south of Sousse. Other Allied forces are through the Fonndouk Pass and the German flank has crumbled in front of them. GERMAN STATEMENT.

The Berlin radio military commentator, Captain Sertorius, said: “Largescale Allied forces are carrying on an offensive in the direction of Kairouan with the probable aim of reaching the coast near Sousse.. If this is successful it would cut off the Axis forces.” Captain Sertorius claimed, however, that the Germans had sealed off several break-throughs on this front, although Allied pressure was stronger with each thrust,, especially in the Fonndouk area. Admitting the retreat from Sfax, he said that Marshal Rommel had withdrawn so skilfully that no Germans were encircled, but Italian units were cut off and taken prisoner. Commentators in London believe that Sfax will be most useful to General Montgomery, not only because he has robbed Marshal Rommel of a supply port, but also because it will assist his own supplies, although the docks will accommodate ships of only JOOO tons. Sfax possesses two mod-erate-sized aerodromes which will be quickly available. West of Maknassi American forces have captured Mezzouna. This place was previously in the news when it was attacked by the Royal Air Force, as there was a large enemy landing field there.

FAST PROGRESS LONDON, April 11. The irresistible Bth Army is now streaming north from Sfax in relentless pursuit of Rommell’s routed forces. British progress in recent stages has been exceptionally fast. The Sth Army, after storming the Wadi Akrarit, covered the 72 miles to Sfax in four days. They advanced the 22 miles from Mahares to Sfax in less than 19 hours, which is attributed to the fact that the Germans’ retreat was so precipitate that they were unable to carry out their customarv laying of a profusion of minefields. Also, 'the flat coastal plain enabled the British to exploit their mechanised mobility. It is expected that Rommel will attempt to hold up the British advance if the ground is favourable south of Sousse, but dispatches from Allied Headquarters suggest that his ultimate defences will be the mountainous area running roughly from Enfidaville (12 miles north of Sousse) to north-west of Pont du Fahs. Rommel, besides having General Montgomery pounding on his heels, is now facing an increasingly grave menace to his right flank by the Allied break-through in the mountains bordering the coastal plain. Indeed, Rommel’s union with General von Arnim may become impossible. The capture of Pichon by a British battalion has secured a key point on the road to Kairouan and Sousse. The tank battle north of Fonndouk, following the occupation of Pichon, is reported to be proceeding satisfactorily. The Allied battle line in this area is: British tanks in the centre, French infantry on the left, American infantry on the right. The French operations further north in the Ousseltia Valley are aiding this movement. The French communique states: “After consolidation of the position at Ousseltia, our troops in co-operation with the Allies, attacked, advancing more than 10 miles north of Pichon and in the mountains of Jebel Selat, which dominate the Kairouan plain. We captured a great many prisoners and much war material.”

20,000 PRISONERS TAKEN

LONDON, April 10. The Algiers radio said that since March 20 nearly 20,000 Axis prisoners had been taken. Some belonged to the German 19th Light Division. There were also many Italians taken during the same period. Three hundred and two Axis aeroplanes had been shot down, compared with 110 Allied. General Montgomery, in a personal message to the Sth Army 4m April 8, said: “If we collect prisoners at the present rate, the enemy will soon have no infantry left to hold his positions.”

The capture of an Italian general, General Manerini, and -also an Italian desert group headquarters is reported from Algiers. The Associated Press correspondent in Algiers reports that the United States 2nd Corps, mopping up east of El Guettar, has taken 1300 Axis prisoners.

Rommel in three days has lost 250 aeroplanes. Correspondents continue to emphasise the terrific blitzing the Allied air forces are giving the Axis, seriously disorganising Rommel’s retreat. They say that the Italians are so shaken by the aerial bombardment that hundreds of Italian prisoners, hearing German aircraft overhead, flung themselves to the ground. CHASE DESCRIBED LONDON, April 11. “The Bth Army is moving fast and Rommel is pulling out as quickly a

he can,” said a radio commentator I from North Africa on Saturday. “The I capture of Sfax, an. important supply 'port and road centre on the route to ! Sousse, is not the only notable Tunisl ian news. There is also the attack by (British, French and American forces iat Fonndouk and in the north things I are going well. We see Rommel racing ) northwards from Sfax across the open 'plain towards Sousse —country where (there are no defensive positions. We see the Allied forces thrusting at the gap in the protecting wall of hills which defends Rommel’s coastal retreat. In the north we see the Ist Army overcoming difficult country and stubborn ressitance, carrying all its objectives. In short, the Allies hold 'the initiative and are hitting where they want to, and Rommel’s livingspace is shrinking rapidly. ‘On Thursday Rommel held a line about 12 miles north of the Wadi Akarit. By noon he had retired. The Bth Army hit him again in the afternoon, and by the evening he began a general withdrawal. By 1.30 a.m. on Friday we had chased him to Mahares, 22 miles south of Sl'ax. Our advance continues with Rommel fleeing towards Sousse, menaced all the way by the threat of a break-through from the west.” The commentator added that the Italians were extremely bitter at being left in the lurch at the Wadi Akarit. ®

A communique indicates that the sweep northwards continues speedily and successfully. It is unlikely that any large part of Rommel’s forces will be cut off, but a considerable bag of prisoners will probably be swept up.

NORTH AND CENTRE

LONDON, April 11

“The Allied forces in the northern plain of Tunisia continued their attack into the hills north-east of Mejez el Bab,” says a correspondent with the Allied advance forces. “Five peaks were the objectives. As they bear unpronounceable names, the troops have ■christened them Salt, Mustard, Vine'gar, Pepper, and Sugar. Sugar, rising to 2100 feet, is the highest and most difficult. Later the same afternoon an officer reported: ‘We have got all the condiments.’ ”

Between the main northern and southern sectors Axis forces have evacuated Pichon, which is 25 miles west of the enemy base of Kairouan. The Germans admit that their troops have evacuated this point in the face of British and French attacks. They have now “left Pichon in front of their lines.” The German News Agency, referring to the abandonment of Pichon, says that the Axis has firmly maintained mountain positions north and south of Pichon, where the Allies are attacking in order to support the British thrust near Mejez el Bab and Beja, aiming to tie down the Axis forces. The Vichy radio says that the new American attack in the direction of Kairouan is increasing in violence. The radio added that LieutenantGeneral Anderson had again taken the initiative in the north and resumed the offensive south of Cap Serrat, with the Germans stubbornly resisting. Reuter’s correspondent with the Ist Army in the Mejez el Bab area says: “The Germans in some sectors 'are hastily pulling back from mountain positions they have held for months. Our advance is progressing satisfactorily. The Ist Army’s casualties are not heavy, but the Germans have suffered severely from our intense and

accurate fire. The British dominate one hill after another. The tanks shoot out Axis strongpoints on the hills and as the occupants leave they are dealt with by the following infantry. Since Wednesday 400 Axis prisoners have been taken in this region. The prisoners were mainly Austrian mountain troops.” The Ist Army’s advance is being carried on in spite of very difficult terrain, unseasonable winds, and rain, which has again transformed the mountain tracks into gluelike mud, slowing up movement. NEAR KAIROUAN RUGBY, April 11. A correspondent in Tunisia, cabling yesterday, says the First Army bursting through the Fondouk Gap, .were fighting late this afternoon towards Kairouan after the push. The enemy defences on the eastern side of the gap were flung aside by tanks, which fanned out into the Tunisian plain. With the Eighth Army pushing northwards there is every indication of a big junction between the two armies. The tanks which went through the gap silenced a number of enemy anti-tank guns and mortars in the hills south ol the pass and forced a number of enemy troops in the hills to walk down and surrender.

Algiers radio says that, according to the latest reports, the Allied forces in the central sector of Tunisia have made a further advance of five miles and are now only ten miles from Kairouan. BATTLE FOR THE PASS A detailed description of the Allied attack on Fondouk has been given in a delayed message from a correspondent at the front. Fondouk lies at the eastern end of the pass through the hills to the Tunisian plain and also provides an open road to Kairouan.

A British force of tanks and infantry, supported by artillery, launched the attack at dawn on Friday from the west, while Americans from the south attacked the hills on the south-

ern sicle of the pass. The enemy were strongly holding the hills on both sides of the pass, and whilst British tanks pushed from the plain the infantry attacked in the hills to the north. Our forces met the heaviest fire from the enemy guns and mortars cleverly placed in the high ground on either side of the pass. The tanks dashed across the open ground towards the village, whilst the infantry made their way into the foothills. The infantry were covered by a creeping barrage up the lower slopes. They followed only 100 yards behind and as they approached the top ridges they fixed bayonets and charged up the final slopes in the face of heavy machine-gun and mortal' fire. The enemy troops holding the ridge broke under the fierce charge and, jumping from the strongpoints, fled down the hills with the British infantry in hot pursuit. Meantime, our tanks, after crossing the wadi in front of the village, discovered an enemy minefield 400 yards wide. Sappers tried to clear the mines

but enemy mortars and machineguns from away to the south covered the minefield with heavy fire, and the sappers were unsuccessful. The tank commander was told he must advance, and led the tanks over the minefields. Several tgnks struck mines and were immobilised. The squadronleader’s own tank struck a mine, and when he climbed out he was killed by machine-gun fire. Some tanks got through into the pass, forcing the enemy to withdraw. Tanks were also able to attack on the commanding s heights on the south side of the pass.

By late afternoon our infantry were outside the village, whilst our tanks were still in the pass. Meantime, the infantry from the second British column were advancing through the hills due west from Pichon, which they helped to capture on Thursday. One. infantry platoon in this column captured an 88 m.m. gun by a bayonet charge.

“ENORMOUSLY ENDANGERED” (Recd. noon) LONDON, April 11. Rommel’s forces are “enormously endangered,’ is the admission of the military spokesmen at Berlin, as the Axis forces, blasted by Allied bombers and hotly pursued by two Allied armies, are apparently withdrawing into the north-eastern corner of the Tunisian triangle. Latest dispatches from the fighting line suggest that Rommel has already withdrawn the majority of his forces from south of Susa. Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters says: Rommel is retreating into the coastal “strongbox in the Tunisian tip, which the bulk of his men and equipment have apparently reached. He has thus for the moment evaded encirclement by the rapid advance of the Eighth Army, and the Allied drive from Fondouk, which has broken into the coastal plain and is now approaching Kairouan. The Eighth Army are racing ahead towards Susa, the third biggest Tunisian port. They are already beyond Lachencha, 50 miles south of Susa, on the main inland road and are now heading for Eldjern, one of Rommel’s former main aerodromes. The spectacle before the Eighth Army is of roads and tracks packed with fleeing enemy transport, and Rommel’s rearguards moving from one low ridge to another, laying down a hasty screen of anti-tank guns until the retreat has reached new positions, as the main forces are heading for the mountains in the region of Enfaidaville. The Vichy radio quoted Berlin military circles as saying the Allied Forces are closing in on Kairouan. The First Army striking east of Sedjenane has now taken Chaouach and the commanding range of hlils running north-west of Chaouach, which is north-west of Medjez el Bab, in important hill country. The British now dominate the BejaMedjez el Bab and Medjez-el-Bab— Tunis roads at this point

The Oslo radio said the concentration of transports observed in Southern Italy indicated the Axis will attempt to evacuate the Afrika Korps.

“BATTLE PRACTICALLY OVER”

(Recd. 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 11.

The battle for Central Tunisia is practically over, says the Columbia Broadcasting System’s North Africa correspondent. The Allies have smashed through the Fondouk Pass and are now heading towards Kairouan and Susa. The German flank has crumbled.

The whole range of hills south of Fondouk has been cleaned up. The Allies, after clearing the enemy from the Faid Pass, are now engaged in digging up minefields. Rommel is retreating at a terrific pace. The French have cleared the enemy from the mountains at the southern end of Ousseltia Valley. The break-through at Fondouk, which brought the Allies almost to the gates of Kairouan—the Moslems’ third most sacred city—was made only after heavy fighting. The Axis held strong defensive positions and moved up the remnant of the panzers to counter the British tanks. The passage through the minefields was extremely difficult and was accomplished only after a motorised battalion which, under heavy fire, cleared the mines, after which the British armour, supported by infantry, went.through and fanned out northward and southward of the FondoukKairouan Road. The Allies picked up the stragglers and material, but the Axis forces generally seem to have extricated themselves. British tanks, and French and American infantry are now spreading over the central plain, where the Germans had the best airfields. Kairouan’s importance lies in its command of a network of roads running to Susa, Enfidaville, and Pont Du Fahs. ROMMEL OUTWITTED.

(Rec. 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 11. The capture of Sfax four days alter the break-through at Wadi Akatit is welcomed as “great news.’ General Montgomery’s victory at Wadi Akarit and the following pursuit have been described as “the most brilliant single operation the Sth Army has so far performed. The opinion is expressed that Montgomery outwitted Rommel, who hoped to impose a greater delay on the Bth Army at that point, but by speedy regrouping and launching the attack in pitch darkness Montgomery surprised and then routed Rommel. Mr. J. L. Garvin, in the ‘Sunday ’Express,” described this action as an “extraordinary feat.” Mr. Garvin observed 'that Allied Headquarters in Tunisia now have three objectives: Firstly, to wreck as much as possible of Rommel’s strength during the retreat; secondly, to intercept tne retreat if possible—somewhere between Sfax and Susa; or, thirdly, to bring Arnim and Rommel to separate battle before they effect and consolidate a full junction in the north. “IT Rommel and Arnim together can concentrate in the north their whole artillery, including ackack and anti-tank guns, they will set a more stubbprn task to the besieging Allies, especially their air forces. Mr. Garvin estimates the Axis forces in Tunisia at possibly a quarter of a million. Commenting on an estimate that the Allies will be ished in Tunisia by June, he. said: “That gives 50 gripping days from now to smash the worst bottleneck of the whole war. It is about the latest date for the European purposes of the Casablanca programme and for a trenchant effect on the world battle. It is late to the point of risk. “BAND OFWBROTHERS.”

(Re . 10.40) NEW YORK, April 11. The Bth Army is a band of brothers who in the disasters of Greece, Crete, and Tobruk, and in Rommel’s advance against Alexandria learned to perfection the lessons of comradeshio, co-operation, and mutual help. Tf-G “New York Sun’s” correspondent. Gault McGowan, was told this when he visited the Sth Army, seeking an answer of the secret of General Montgomery’s success. “In the membership of the glorious Eighth there is no red tape, no rivalry, and no snobbishness, but perfect understanding between the New Zealanders, British, Scots, Indians, South Africans, and now the Americans,” the correspondent was told. “When we hit, we hit hard — not in penny packets. ‘Monty’ is the idol of us all. He has the biggest fan mail of any army commander. Mothers and sweethearts write him for news of their loved ones. He writes personally to soldiers and his letters become cherished souvenirs. He also visits them in the front lines, encouraging and inspiring them. When he wants extra effort it is given wholeheartedly.” FORTRESSES’ RAID. ITALIAN CRUISERS DAMAGED.

LONDON, April 11. “One of the largest numbers of Flying Fortresses ever employed anywhere heavily bombed and directly hit the 10,000-ton Italian cruisers Gorizia and Trieste, lying in La Maddelena harbour, in Sardinia.” says an announcement from Allied Head-

quarters in Algiers. “The cruisers were damaged so severely that they are expected to be immobilised for the remainder of the North African campaign. The full results of the attack will not be known until photographs taken during the raid are studied. The Fortresses were under the command of Major-General James Doolittle, who led the American raid on Tokio last year.” . The Morocco radio reports that one Axis vessel was sunk and another damaged in a naval engagement off Bizerta.

The Algiers radio reports that the Axis in the first nine days of April has lost 62 supply ships in the Mediterranean.

LATER

Four Italian heavy cruisers were damaged in the raid by Flying Fortresses on the Italian naval harbour of La Maddalena. Lightning fighters which encountered large formations of Junkers transport aircraft between Sicily and North Africa shot down 30 of the transports and 11 of the escorting fighters. Mitchell medium bombers shot down 12 more Junkers. In the northern sector Allied fighters shot down five enemy aircraft yesterday.

From all these operations, three of ours are missing. AXIS LOSSES HEAVY

LONDON, April 11

Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters says that the Axis air forces are showing no eagerness to fight, probably because of the number of their aeroplanes destroyed in the last three days, which is estimated to exceed 250 in air combat and on the ground. The Algiers radio says that the Germans sent in Stukas in an attempt to check the advance pf the 'lst Army. Allied aeroplanes without loss shot down 14 Stukas. The Morocco radio reports that an aircraft-carrier is co-operating with the land-based air forces in paralysing Rommel’s columns retreating along the coast. During attacks all day against the retreating Axis forces Allied fighter-bombers destroyed at least 50 vehicles on Thursday, when they swooped on a petrol refuelling point. Troops reaching the area the following day found tangled and burned-out wrecks round the petrol dump. A radio commentator in North Africa concluded with a piece of outstanding news of air activity. “This morning 27 enemy aeroplanes, including 18 Junkers transports, were shot down by a formation of Lightnings,” he said. “None of our aeroplanes was lost. The enemy formation was sighted between Sicily and Tunisia, and was shot to pieces in 15 minutes. Probably they were transports loaded with petrol and oil, as several exploded when they hit the sea.”

FIGHTER-BOMBERS’ SORTIES

RUGBY, April 11

R.A.F. lighter-bombers yesjterday attacked an aerodrome on Lampedusa Island, between Sicily and Tunisia. They sighted an enemy convoy off the Tunisian coast, and attacked with the aid of flares. A flash was seen from the stern of the ship, and later it was seen with smoke pouring from it. AXIS FERRY SERVICE. .

LONDON, April 9

“Marshal Rommel is evacuating key personnel and technicians from Tunisia,” savs the “Daily Express.” “In the last few days ferry transports between Messina and the Tunis-Bi-zerta defence ring have been working a shuttle service throughout the night carrying in supplies and carrying out technicians. Many have been brought down by Allied night fighters. The Germans are using Junkcers 52’s and obsolete Junkers 90’s, also some new four-engined transports withdrawn from Russia for taking supplies to Tunisia, particularly oil. Sixty per cent, of Rommel’s supplies this week arrived by air, but after the capture of further advance bases the Royal Air Force will establish a continuous fighter patrol along the coast, thus cutting down the Luftwaffe ferrv. It is estimated that 100,000 of the Axis forces reached Tunisia by air.”

ALEXANDER’S CONFIDENCE

RUGBY, April 11

General Alexander, replying to General Eisenhower’s congratulations, praises the “American comrades from the west who have fought so gallantly under difficult conditions. I am confident that under your leadership the task of driving the enemy forces from their last stronghold m the continent of Africa will be successfully accomplished.”

RUSSIAN INTEREST.

LONDON, April 11

Mr. Garvin, expresses the opinion that Hitler’s last bid for world mastery by the destruction of Russia will be the worst of all his attempts. “His concentrations for a blow to the heart are enormous.” The “Sunday Times’s” correspondent, Alexander Werth, in Moscow, remarks that he is witnessing more than ever before gradual ice-break-ing—the Russians’ increasing faith that the Allies mean business, that whatever happens on the Russian front this Summer the other fronts will not be idle. One of the biggest straws in the wind is that eight Moscow cinemas are beginning to show ‘‘Desert Victory.” Another good sign is the unprecedented prominence given in the whole Soviet Press to Tunisia, the bombings on Germany, the effects of the bombing on German civilian morale, and the war at Werth says: “There is still much scepticism. Nevertheless, I observed an important change this week. Perhaps it is a fundamental change with a lasting effect on inter-Allied relations. I think the next two months will be decisive in this respect.” DE GAULLE’S MESSAGE RUGBY, April 10. General de Gaulle has sent a cablegram to General Eisenhower, conveying the ardent good wishes of the French people to General Eisenhower and his gallant Allied armies. “These good wishes,” said General de Gaulle, “have the same inspiration as the urge of the French people for unity, which they want to bring about quickly, and which will allow them to increase their effort in our common war.” General Eisenhower replied assuring General de Gaulle that the efforts in North Africa would not slacken until the enemy was annihilated in this battle, which was but a prelude to the liberation of France. General Catroux has arrived in London to report to General de Gaulle on conversations with General Giraud.

CONGRATULATIONS TO N.Z.’ERS.

SYDNEY, April 11. Sir Thomas Blarney, Commander of the Allied land forces in the South-west Pacific area, has sent the following message to LieutenantGeneral Freyberg, commander of the New Zealand Division: “Congratulations to yourself, the officers, and men of your magnificent division on the further recent successes, from all ranks of the Australian Army and myself.” Lieutenant-General Freyberg replied: “No message could give greater pleasure to the New Zealand Division tnan yours. On behalf of all ranks I send our warmest thanks and ■ best wishes to the Australian Army for continued success in their grim campaign in New Guinea.”