TWO-PRONG PUSH

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

TWO-PRONG PUSH

ALLIED SOME HARD FIGHTING ENEMY OUTFLANKED (By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (Britlßh Official Wireless.) (Noon.) RUGBY, March 23. Commenting on the North African communique statement that the Eighth Army operations are proceeding according to plan, a war correspondent says that General Montgomery’s plans are very exact. He says that the battle developed into a two-pronged attack, one along the coast road to Gabes and the other a wide outflanking movement working round the left flank, round the Matamata hills, and up through the desert about 50 miles towards Ei Hamma, which is 20 miles due west of Gabes. The British forces attacking along the coast had a very tough job. They had to cross the deep and difficult Wadi Zigzou, which runs north-east from south of Mareth town to the coast. They forced a way across against tire fiercest opposition and then they had to fight through a complicated trench system and mop up very many machine-gun posts. But they did that, and now they are approaching a strongly-held ridge ol hills, and fighting goes on ferociously. Meanwhile, the other British force making a great sweep across the desert is outflanking the Germans, and at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday attacked the enemy positions 15 miles southwest of El Hamma— stoutly defended positions, for General Rommel expected this left hook. Our troops had to force gaps through the minefields and anti-tank ditches, but by 11 o’clock on Monday morning they were only 10 miles from El Hamma. While this stubborn battle was going on, the Americans pushing out from Gafsa had occupied Maknassi, on the Mahares road, and now they are pressing forward. On the GafsaGabes road, just to the south, there was patrol activity near El Guettar. In the north, where we are holding the line covering Jebel Abiod, on the Tamera-Beja road, guns are busy on both sides and our patrols are prodding at the enemy. AH the while there is tremendous air activity and our 24-hours-a-day air attack is being driven home more than ever. The slightness of the enemy air opposition in the Mareth area is subject to comment here, where it is considered that the strength of the direct Royal Air Force attacks—comparable with those of the Alamein battle—has a bearing on the situation. At the same time, the Royal Air Force’s indirect support to the army by bombing convoys and communications generally must draw off much of the enemy’s fighter strength and cut down his air power in the battle area.