The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, March 25, 1943. BATTLE ON FOR TUNISIA

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, March 25, 1943. BATTLE ON FOR TUNISIA

The real fight for Tunisia; begun actually more than a. week I ago, though not announced until 1 the week-end, is now in full stride. The enemy has meantimesome scope in the north for his initiative, but in the south his initiative is rapidly coming to what appears a finale. Formerly he had a stretch along the coast from the Mareth Line round to the Algerian border over 300 miles in length, but nowhere more than 60 miles in width, bince the Allies took the offensive about the. 16th. inst., the southern enemy holding has rapidly been diminishing. Doubling the Mareth Lin ! e, the Eighth Army came up behind it a distance of about fifty miles; and is now at Matmala, well north of the first Mareth series of defences, while ou its right flank the Eighth Army has made a gap near the coast, through which General Montgomery is pouring armoured and infantry forces, under cover of an air and artillery barrage greater than any ever before known in Africa. If it prove that the Eighth Army’s left wing presently passes El Hani ma, the next development should be a linking up with French and American forces opposite Gabes, leaving an isthmus between Lake Shott e] Jerid and the sea so narrow that the enemy well may be expected to retreat north of it ere it is too late. The Americans are further north approaching the coastal region, and it is no surprise now to find the Germans openly admitting that they lack room to manoeuvre. The outstanding feature, next to the Eighth Army’s outflanking movement, is undoubtedly Allied air superiority, the enemy planes having kept out of the struggle almost entirely. This advantage is of incalculable importance. The offensive evidently is built upon it. It is doubtful if the enemy can remain at Gabes, and should his remaining and lesser two Mareth lines be punctured, a gcn'eral retreat towards Sfax may be expected, one which may not be as headlong as that from El Alamein, but nevertheless one in which th'e enemy must suffer decimation from aircraft. General Montgomery has forecast a speedy completion of the conquest of Tunisia, and his plans are said to be most thorough. It certainly can be seen that the start has been very successful, but allowance has to be made for the enemy’s strategy, which would not ignore the possibility of encirclement. Probably most of the enemy forces are already moving for safety, and their resistance may be greater the’ further the Allies progress. Nevertheless, the enemy only can hope for a delaying action, and the delay now may not be very long.