THE EIGHTH ARMY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21051, 24 March 1943, Page 3

THE EIGHTH ARMY

PASTMARETH LINE STRONG RESISTANCE AXIS COUNTER FAILS (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (11.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 23. "The Eighth Army operations are proceeding satisfactorily and according to plan," says a communique from Allied North African ' headquarters.; "The enemy is resisting strongly in the Mareth position. Heavy fighting continues. Seventeen hundred prisoners were captured by midday on Monday. A heavy counter - attack yesterday afternoon was repulsed. "In the Gafsa sector, our forces eastward of El Guettar carried out active patrolling. Further north, our troops occupied Maknassi and pushed a patrol forward towards high ground tc the east. In northern Tunisia there were artillery exchanges and patrol activity in the Jebel Aboid sector.” “On Sunday night enemy concentrations between Mareth and Katina were bombed and our bombers also attacked an enemy airfield near Si'ax,’’ adds the communique. "Yesterday Western Desert Air Force fighters attacked concentrations of enemy tanks and armoured cars south of Ei Hamma. Thirty-two tanks were hit and at least nine of them destroyed. Light bombers attacked enemy positions south of Zarat. A fighter escort destroyed three enemy fighters. Targets in the same area were attacked uy fignter-bombers, “An enemy airfield at Mezzouna was attacked by formations of medium and light bombers and fires started among aircraft on the ground. During these raids and offensive patrols by our fighters, nine enemy aircraft were destroyed. Enemy vehicles were hit during a low-level attack by our fighters which continued throughout the day. Other vehicles were destroyed on the northern front by our fighter-bombers. Sicilian Docks Pounded “The docks at Palermo, in Sicily, were heavily bombed. Hits were seen on ships and along the quays. Six enemy fighters were shot down. Between Sicily and Tunisia an enemy convoy was attacked by our bombers. A troopship was hit and left on fire. Hits were also seen on a large supply ship and an escort vessel. In combats with enemy air escorts, eight enemy aircraft were destroyed. From these operations seven of our aircraft are missing, but one pilot is known to be safe.” A Middle East air communique states that heavy bombers attacked Naples on Sunday night. Large fires Were observed near a railway depot and oil installations. From these and other operations all our aircraft are safe. The Morocco radio says that the Eighth Army is attacking with infantry supported by powerful tank divisions, while light mobile detachments are moving in from the south-west and executing outflanking movements on the hillsides. Bright sunshine and a steady breeze are drying up the roads and easing the path for the American armoured vehicles driving towards the Mediterranean. Fierce combats are progressing on the Mareth Line. Air and ground forces are co-operating perfectly, says the Algiers radio. Allied planes are repeatedly and concentratedly attacking the enemy front positions. Our tanks are violently iiounding the enemy strongholds while infantry is repeatedly engaging the enemy. Offensive Plans Revealed The New York Times’ Tunisian correspondent says that now that the grandiose proportions of the Allied oflensive plans have been revealed it is clear that General Rommel’s forces are in considerable danger. General Patton’s Americans driving east towards the sea represent a formidable threat to his immediate supply area and main lines of communication northward. This threat is equalled by General Montgomery’s forward surge. Thus far the Americans have encountered only Italians stiffened by a few German artillery batteries. The Germans are providing most of the air support, but this shows signs of decreasing as the Allied attacks on the Axis aerodromes increase in number -- and intensity. Furthermore, the peak of the Allied air offensive in this theatre has not yet been reached. On the whole, the tactical situation in the south is cause for reasoned optimism. One part of the battle for the Mareth Line has already clearly been won—the Allies have gained air superiority over the fighting area, says the Daily Express’ military writer. The total of Allied aircraft being used is the largest ever assembled on our side over a battlefield. Ten nationalities are among the Allied airmen. “Secret Battle” First It can now be revealed that a “secret battle” preceded the main assault against the Mareth Line. The Daily Mail’s correspondent with the Eighth Army says this was a series of bold night attacks on March 16, when the enemy was expelled from outposts. Strong bodies of infantry, accompanied by sappers, crept silently across no-man’s-land, which is several miles wide, under a bright moon. They cleared a path through a heavy minefield, attacked a very strongly held position, took many prisoners, ahd inflicted heavy casualties. They took all the objectives in front of the north sector of the Mareth Line from the coast to the neighbourhood of the main road from Medjenine to Mareth. In the extreme north, a further attack on March 18 brought our positions within two miles of the Mareth Line proper. The Italians who held this sector fought stubbornly, but were eventually overwhelmed. The Berlin radio admitted that Axis forward units at some points in . the Mareth area avoided prolonged contact with the British “so as to be able to engage the enemy under more favourable conditions.” The radio referred to British and American coastal units, but it is not known in London whether Americans are there.

German military officials in Berlin declare that the Axis forces occupy favourable defensive position in Tunisia, with assured supply lines. They have made all preparations for a defence.

The Vichy radio says that the Axis forces have fallen back to Gabes in order to secure more favourable positions.