TUNISIA CAMPAIGN

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 5

TUNISIA CAMPAIGN

American Advance SEVERAL PLACES TAKEN. WITHIN 40 MILES OF' COAST. LAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, March 23. The Algiers radio announced today that in Central Tunisia, Allied troops had occupied Maknassi. This means that troops of the American Fifth Army, together with the French forces, are less than 40 miles from the coast. The Americans attacked from the south-west towards the south-east at the same time as the Eighth Army attacked from the south. Driving ten miles a day towards the coast from the Gafsa area, the Americans have covered 65 miles since the beginning of their drive on March 17. They captured the village of Bou Hamed, eight miles east of El GueAfter pushing out from Gafsa, and capturing El Guetar and then Bou Hamed, the Americans went on to capture Maknassi, on the Mahares road, and now they are pressing forward. On the Gafsa-Gabes road, just south, there has been patrol activity near Guetar. In the north, where we are holding a line covering Jebel Aboid, on the TamaraBeja road, guns are busy on both sides, and our patrols are prodding at the enemy. Like the British, the Americans have had tremendous air support. AH the while there is tremendous air activity for 24 hours in the day. The air attack is being driven home more than-ever. The American forces, after taking Maknassi, have pushed on three miles and occupied a ridge eastward of the village. PINCERS NEARER. DESPITE ENEMY ATTACK. (Rec. 7.40.) LONDON, March 23. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent at Allied Headquarters m North Africa stated: The situation at El Guettar is regarded as being well in hand. There has been a German counter-attack there. inis is a determined effort to prise apart Allied pincers which have been closing in from the north and south of El Guettar. The operation is fifteen miles north-west of El Hamma. ITALIANS SURRENDER. (Rec. 10.40.) LONDON, March 23. The Berlin radio stated: Five thousand Italians surrendered to the Americans at Maknassi. The British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Army reports that 140 Italians abandoned one strongpoint on the Mareth front and were walking towards the British with their hands raised up, when German artillery shelled them. German troops were rushed in to defend the abandoned post. Italians said that the British barrage there was unbearable. AXIS ATTACKS. AGAINST AMERICANS. LONDON', March 23. The British United Press correspondent with the United States forces reports: “German tanks on Tuesday morning, in a desperate attempt to break through the trap closing in on Marshal Von Rommel, attacked the Americans south-east of El Guettar and also at Hadjehel-Aiouan (15 miles south-west of Pichon). American artillery on high ground covering El Guettar checked a German tank drive and inflicted heavy casualties. Fighting is continuing. FRENCH FORCES. SEVENTY THOUSAND ENGAGED. LONDON, March 23. 1 The French forces in North Africa [are fighting in the south-west of Tunisia, between the Americans and British, and have advanced to within forty miles of the sea coast. French forces are advancing towards the coast along the shores of the large lake Shott el Jerid. Reuter says 70,000 French troops are participating in the Tunisian offensive.

Enemy Thrust DANGEROUS IN NORTH. ’ Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn. 1 (Rec. 7.45.) LONDON, March 23. The First . Army has recaptured Nefsa station in North Tunisia. The recaptfire of Nefsa relieves the situation in North Tunisia to some extent. It seems fairly certain, however, that the enemy’s thrust in this area is still likely to become of major significance. The Allies should not overlook it while giving attention to the drama of converging armies in the south. ITALIAN TRAINS BOMBED. (Rec. 11.0.) RUGBY, March 24. “Sicily felt Malta’s stabbing blows by day and night on Monday,” says a correspondent in Malta. lhe significance and cumulative effect of the blows is greater now than the battle for Tunisia is-on. Every railway engine disabled holds up the movement of supplies to the enemy. On Monday morning Malta’s fighterbombers scored hits on a factory near Pozzallo. Spitfires strafed and halted two trains, blowing up the engine of one. Fighter intruders resumed destruction .work tn moonlight, successfully attacking five trains at various places in Sicily, also a train in Southern Italy.- In the course of attacks many hits were scored on railway stations, in addition to blowing up or disabling trains. It is small wonder that the enemy has. given as high priority to the production of locomotives as to tanks and aircraft.”—B.O.W.

General Hurley NEW APPOINTMENT WASHINGTON, March 23. President Roosevelt has announced that General P. J. Hurley, has resigned as United States Minister to New Zealand, in order to take up duties as the President’s General Utility Man in the Middle East and Near East. A HIGH TRIBUTE TO N.Z. (Rec. 11.40.) WASHINGTON, Mar 23. General P. J. Hurley has sent a letter to President Roosevelt regretting the necessity for his leaving his post as Minister to New Zealand. He said: “I cannot refrain from expressing the deep sentiments of fellowship and unity, in ideals which I experienced among the officials and people of New Zealand. As a people and a Dominion, New’ Zealand has never committed a crime. It has the fairest history of any Englishspeaking nation, and, I think, of any nation in the world. In the century of its existence, New Zealand has always endeavoured to apply the Golden Rule to the solution of its problems. New’ Zealand’s record is one of which the English-speaking people of the wide world may justly point with pride.”