The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, THURSDAY. APRIL 8, 1943. PROGRESS IN TUNISIA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21064, 8 April 1943, Page 2

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, THURSDAY. APRIL 8, 1943. PROGRESS IN TUNISIA

The campaign in Tunisia goes exceedingly well. At every point on the land front the initiative still rests with the Allies and at the most important points further progress has been made; while in the air and on the sea the Allies retain almost undisputed command. Not only are the Axis forces being compelled to withdraw within a more restricted area, but, in addition, their lines of communication are being more insistently hammered and disrupted. The general picture that is presented, therefore, is one of the Axis forces being steadily depleted of men and equipment as a result of the continuing actions and of their supplies being constantly reduced. At the same time they are being forced back towards the eastern tip of Tunisia; It is to be expected that, with their backs to the sea, Rommel's arid von Arnim’s forces, 'more compactly situated, will put up a stubborn tight. Against them, however, will be the combined British, American. and French armies converging from all directions, well equipped and strongly reinforced, and encouraged by their run of successes and by their determination to wipe out the last Axis stronghold in Africa. The position of the enemy could scarcely be more desperate and it will require a remarkable recovery to avert an early and decisive defeat. The Eighth Army, of which the New Zealand Division forms a not inconspicuous part, has again distinguished itself. The full Story of its latest battle has yet to be told, but enough is known to indicate that it has achieved one of its greatest successes. The attack on the Wadi Akarit was launched at dawn. Notwithstanding that this was a naturally strong defensive position which Rommel had 1 considerably reinforced after his' defeat on the Mareth Line, the chief enemy positions had been taken within two hours and by midday the Allies were well across the wadi and pursuing the ■Hoeing enemy to the north. The speed of the success must be some measure of the weight of the attack and also of the great striking power of the veteran desert army. Early reports state that 6000 prisoners were taken, a figure which is not large coir, pared with those of earlier campaigns but is a not inconsiderable"’proportion of the total Axis forces in the whole of Tunisia. It npiy be assumed that ihc losses of material and equipment are on a similar substantial "scale, so that this one rapid attack moans a slii! further weakening of the Axis forces left to make anotheT stand further to the north. Where ancl when, or whether, they will’be able to make a stand remains to be seen, but it may be that the next stand will be the last one. Some importance attaches to the fact that this latest advance has resulted in the linking up of the Eighth Army with the American' forces’which have been steadily advancing towards the coast along the Gafsa-Gabes road. On this occasion the Americans were able to play the role of the enliankirig force, leaving the Eighth Army in a position to concentrate its whole strength on a frontal assault. The junction of the two'armies means that ’he Allies now hold a continuous line from the coast north of Gabes to a point on the northern coast eastward of Cap Scrrat. Under Allied pressure and Axis withdrawals, this line is being steadily shortened and the Axis forces are being compressed within a steadily-diminishing area. The strategic situation suggests that Rommel may now concentrate on retreating to she Tunis-Bizerta area in order to join forces with von Arnim. To do this, however, he must run the gauntlet of the French and American forces advancing at three different points, Maknassi, Faicl Pass, and Kairouan. The fact that Italians seem to have been left to meet the Eighth Army suggests that the best German troops have been used to protect the long flank and cover the withdrawal of the main body, but even then it is doubtful whether the withdrawal can be completed without further heavy losses. Not the least impressive aspect of the latest operations is the part that has been played by the Allied air forces. The Eighth Army’s attack was preceded by what is probably the most concentrated aerial bombardment of the whole war. More than 1000 sorties were made in the one day and they were of a most comprehensive nature. Not only was the fullest direct support given to the Allied land forces but the Axis was also hammered and hampered in every conceivable way. The Axis air force was largely kept on the ground through the shattering attacks made on its landing grounds, supply bases and comihunications received a rough handling, and shipping and ports were under constant attack. In the latter respect the Royal Navy,’ particularly through its submarines, again played a notable part. In short; the whole operation was further evidence of the excellent co-operation between the three services and of a carefully concerted plan carried out with amazing efficiency. Attacks on a similar, or even heavier, scale will be launched against the enemy in the more confined area in which he will now find himself and the impressive evidence of Allied strength gives good ground for .hoping that the campaign in Tunisia will be a matter of weeks rather than months.