ALLIED LINES BENT CONSIDERABLY

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1943, Page 5

ALLIED LINES BENT CONSIDERABLY

Americans, Remain in Tight Corner

rAust & N.Z. Cable Assn.J lAust. & LON . DONi Fe b. 17. The situation in Tunisia ,at the moment appears to have deteriorated somewhat Correspondents report that tierce tank battles are raging on the outskirts of Sbeilta, to which the weight of the onslaughts of Von Rommel’s veteran panzers pushed back the Americans. Sbeilta is inland towards the head of the road from the port of Sousse. Earlier reports said that bittei fighting was continuing in Centra Tunisia, where the Germans and Americans were in contact at various points along a 50-mile front. It is in this direction tnat the enemy has made the more northerly of his two thrusts inland. Allied Headquarters in Noith Africa states: Opposing enemy forces were engaged throughout the day on the southern Tunisian front. At tne end of the day lighting was still in nrogiess on the outskirts of Sbeilta. Reuter’s correspondent at Algiers says that the Americans at Sbeitla, to-day, are meeting a renewed thrust from' the German armoured forces. The Associated Press says that the American tenure of Sbeilta is extremely uncertain. Marshal Von Rommel,.in the last three days, using a number of huge Mark 6 tanks and tanks salvaged from Libya, pushed the Axis front 35 miles westward from Faid Pass. The Americans, resisting with General Grant tanks and General Sherman tanks, have received a great part of their battering from dive-bombers. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent states that on the line of the southern inland thrust of the Germans, south of . Gafsa, the Afrika Korps panzers are now striking for Fenana. Both thrusts represent big advances. The German movement has been clearly made with the object of clearing a coastal passage for tne Afrika Korps to come north from the Mareth line region. The British United Press correspondent says it is believed that the Americans will be forced to withdraw from Feriana to the high hills northward, unless the powerful German drive is halted. . Despite the threat to their positions through the German push towards Feriana, Americans on the north edge of Shorttjerid south-west of Gafsa are believed to be holding on to Tozeur. The German occupation of Gafsa was the direct result of a reverse inflicted on the Americans on Monday, when the combat command from Sbeilta was compelled to withdraw. Reuter’s Tunisia correspondent says: It is now known the American counter-attack yesterday in the Sidi Bousid area lasted several hours, with the battle swaying uncertainly. The Twelfth United' States AnForce replied to German dive-bomb-ing by putting out of action 11 tanks. The spokesman at Allied Headquarters, London, declared that the German report of the number of American casualties in the action near Gafsa, was grossly exaggerated. In the Sidi Bousid area, enemy advances isolated a number of American contingents. No reports have been received from the isolated forces, but strong hopes are held that they will be able to rejoin the main forces. Berlin radio’s military spokesman said the Tunisia operations cannot yet be regarded as a prelude to decisive battles. The Allies and Axis at the present are assembling their forces. Local operations are going on in the Gafsa area. A FRENCH RETREAT. 8.0.W. RUGBY, Feb. 17. A French North African communique says: Our troops in southern Tunisia, following the situation at Gafsa, have taken up new positions at Feriana, without interference. There is nothing to report from th e central front. (Rec 12.30 a.m.) LONDON. Feb. 18. A French Headquarters commumoue states: There is nothing of -importance to report from central lunisia Our troops in southern Tunisis, after the evacuation of Gafsa, have taken up new positions in the region of Feriana without interference. SBEITLA BATTLE CONTINUES. (Rec. 11.35) LONDON, Feb. IS. The American armoured forces are still fighting grimly around Sbeitla. They, are attempting to stem Marshal Rommel’s thrust, which is a powerful one. Allied Line Bent Back IN SOUTH TUNISIA. NO CHANCE OF A WEDGE NOW. (Rec. 11.35) LONDON, Feb. 18. Reuter’s correspondent at Algiers savs: The Allied line in Tunisia formerly ran north and south parallel with the coast. The line now bends back to the south-west a long its southern half. There the Allied forces hold positions in front or a series of ridges. These ridges otter excellent defensive possibilities,, but an Allied withdrawal to them probably would mean giving up Feriana, which is forty miles north of falsa, and a lesser distance south-west oi Sbeilta. , ~ _ . The Columbia Broadcasting System’s Algiers correspondent says: Even if Marshal Rommel’s . forces stopped at this line of ridges, it means that he has pretty well spoiled any chance that we might have had oi ■ cutting through to the sea. It also means that he has weakened us a' great deal in Southern Tunisia, for the indications are that our losses have been considerable. We have lost some useful positions, and much more painful—men and tanks. But it does not mean that we. .have seriously endangered ortr campaign. Marshal Rommel’s ultimate chances are no better. ALLIES LOSE ’DROMES. (Rec. 12.40 a.m.) LONDON. Feb. 18. The British United Press North African correspondent points out that there has been a loss of three airfields, which increases the Allied Air Force problems, but says this does (not necessarily help the Germans. Two of these aerodromes are likely •to remain within the range of Allied artillery, while the third is merely an advanced post for a small group of fighters. ROMMEL REPORTED WOUNDED. NEW YORK, Feb. 17. The N.A.N.A. Tunisia correspondent said: It is confirmed that American bombers blew' up Marshal Von Rommel’s headquarters at Sfax,

wounding him seriously. Marshal Von Rommel was taken to a hospital at Tunis, and was flown from there to Berlin. ENEMY’S ADVANCE. CLAIMED TO BE FAR TO SOUTH-WEST. (Rec. 1.10.) LONDON, Feb. 18. Berlin is now claiming that the Axis forces have the complete initiative in Southern Tunisia and that they have advanced south-westwards as far as the western borders of Lake Shotteljend, which extends inland near Gabes', a distance of over 100 miles to its western border’s. Eighth Army nearing mareth line. LONDON, Feb. 17. A British Middle East communique states: Yesterday, our troops ±n the northern sector continued Progress westwards towards Madene. Patrol operations continued in sectors. Targets west of Ben Gardane were attacked by our fighter bombers yesterday, although air activity was not on a large scale. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says the Eighth Army advanced troops under improved conditions, are advancing so fast they are twenty miles beyond Ben Gardane, half-way to Dedenine, which is less than 30 miles from the Mareth Line. The British United Press Cairo correspondent says: The Axis is only intermittently opposing Gen. Montgomery’s advance into the Mareth Line outer defences. Rain has ceased making advance easier. The Berlin radio said that Rom--1 mel’s rearguard on the night of February 15, withdrew to the Mareth Line, according to plan, unhampered by the British. It was not until Feb~ ruary 16 that Eighth Army advance forces followed the Axis force s movements because they had to overcome thickly sown mines and other obstacles. The radio added: “We' observed British divisions, which so far were distributed in great depth, now closing up nearer the front.” Medenine Reached BY EIGHTH ARMY’S ADVANCE FORCE. (Rec. 1.5.) LONDON, Feb. 18. A British communique from Cairo states: The Eighth Army continued to advance westwards yesterday, when forward elements reached Medenine in the northern sector. Our patrols m tne southern sector have been active in the Foumtatahouine area, 30 miles du e south of Medenine. The bad weather has restricted air operations over the battle area. Heavy bombers on Tuesday night attacked Candia aerodrome and harbour and started two fires on a landing ground. Our 'planes the same night attacked five trains in Sicily, setting fire to two locomotives and seriously damaging three. Malta ’planes strafed motortransport in Tunisia. From these and other operations two of our planes are missing. ENEMY SHIPS LOST. CONVOY REACHES MALT'A. LONDON, Feb. 17. One of th e largest convoys yet sent to Malta has arrived safely with supplies of food, ammunition, petrol and other material. Dock workers unloaded 28,000 tons of cargo in six days, while protective fighters circled overhead. The Netherlands Admiralty reports that a Dutch submarine operating with British forces in the Mediterranean torpedoed and sunk an Italian submarine. On Monday night, an enemy tanker was attacked in the Sicilian Narrows bv British torpedo aircraft, and left blazing from stem to stern. The same night successful low flying attacks were carried out on rail targets in southern Italy and Sicily. Two enemy aircraft were shot down over Sicily. One of ours is missing. An Admiralty communique says that British submarines ’in the central Mediterranean have destroyed six enemy supply ships, damaged a seventh, and probably destroyed another. One submarine met an enemy convoy of two ships, powerfully escorted by destroyers, launches and aircraft west of Sicily. One of the ships was torpedoed and probably sunk. In the Gulf of Hamamet, three small enemy supply ships, south-bound and fully laden, were attacked. Two of them were sunk by gunfire, and the third was seen to be beached. Another ship was damaged by gunfire. In the Gulf of Taranto a mediumsized enemy supply ship was torpedoed and was afterwards seen to be beached, with its back broken. A large enemy supply ship, east-bound, was also torpedoed and sunk.