SLOW ADVANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21009, 4 February 1943, Page 3

SLOW ADVANCE

TUNISIAN FORCES axis portFcaptured AMERICAN OPERATIONS (By Telegraph—Press Afwn. —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. 2. A North African communique states: “In southern Tunisia our troops advancing eastwards captured the station at Sened. Our infantry, supported by tanks and artillery, attacked the enemy at Faid. In central Tunisia, the enemy made a slight gain in the hills south-west of Pont Du Fahs. Our forces counter-attacked, restoring the positions. In northern Tunisia our patrols were .active. "Our forces were supported by light bombers and fighters throughout the day. One patrol of Lightnings prevented an attack on the troops by Junkers 87’s and destroyed three. Our bombers attacked the docks at Tunis and a convoy entering Mateur. At least two ships were hit and fires were left burning in the dock area. Our bombers shot down nine enemy fighters.” A correspondent in North Africa states that the American force which drove the enemy from Sened met with stiff resistance and withstood an unsuccessful couner-attack. The attack on Sened was only in the nature of a raid and it is expected that the Americans will either swing awav to the south or the north. Al Faid, American artillery, infantry and tanks launched heavy attacks against a position at the eastern end of the pass and succeeded in making a little progress. The enemy is holding his positions with considerable strength and the Americans are meeting with considerable opposition.

Germans Driven Back

The Germans again attacked our positions in the Pont du Fahs area. They were again repulsed and driven back. It would appear that this German attack is an endeavour to prevent the troops being moved from this area to reinforce the Allied troops in the south.

The Associated Press correspondent in North Africa, quoting an Allied spokesman, says that the attack against Sened v/as purely a raid. The Americans withdrew after accomplishing the purpose of eliminating the garrison.

Reuter reports that the American column which captured Sened cleared out three companies of German infantry and also 18 lorry loads of reinforcements and then advanced northward. Two American columns are closing in against Maicnassy, which apparently is erroneously reported to have been captured last week. One column is advancing from the west, following the capture of Sened. This column has already linked up with the second moving south from Sidi Bousid.

The American force farther north trying to retake Faid Pass has not made much headway against the strongly entrenched enemy. The Germans have artillery sited on the slopes on both sides of the pass. Allied planes are actively participating in the operations. Boston bombers directly hit a large concentration of vehicles, including at least 10 tanks.