The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, March 26, 1943. ROMMEL’S SUPRISE ATTACK.

Grey River Argus, 26 March 1943, Page 4

The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, March 26, 1943. ROMMEL’S SUPRISE ATTACK.

Expectations of a non-stop advance by tWe Eighth Army, to which earlier reports, that the enemy was not resisting, had given rise, have not been realised in Southern Tunisia, but the setback is one of only a temporary nature. It has been due to a surprise, Rommel having concealed an artillery and armoured limy which succeeded in regaining as much of tlfe Mareth Line as the British had occupied in their advance during the previous two or three days. Great store naturally had Keen set-by the terrific. Allied air attack, but it is not to be assumed that the Allied commanders took any undue risk, or showed the enemy all thej' had al the outset. They would allow foi< the possibility that the. defenders would also keep something up their sleeve. The news earlier that armoured forces were being sent into the original gap by General Montgomery is not fully verified. The enemy claims to have knocked out numerous tanks, but only indicates the direction of El Ilamma, behind the Mareth Line, as a quarter where these losses were sustained. The outflanking force may have thus suffered, but later newsgoes to show that General Moutigomery has sent his tanks against the Mareth Line only since the Eighth Army has resumed its advauiec, which an American correspondent says has again reachbed the Mareth Line near the [coast. Credit may be given the I enemy commander fori his initial ['success, but it may prove to bo [[the course, of eventual failure if. 'las indicated, he has used all he had. and lacks reserves. Tt had isccm'ed reasonable that the enemy [would, as Berlin claimed, choose ,'a more favourable position fur th or back for a stand. The German staff rule, of course, is that of attack, but it is qualified nor- [ mally by the provision of superior force at the point of attack. : Should Rommel v presently reveal I himself as lacking in reserves as [he did at El Alainein, his surprise will then appear as a flash

in. the pan. The enemy’s main objective in Tunisia is to delay th’e Allied forces. Should their advance; therefore, be resumed without delay, the enemy’s early expenditure of men and material will not avail to obtain delay. At the same time, Mr Chunchill and an American spokesman have warned against the expectation of an easy victory. After the set - back itself, the warning is hardly necessary, but if the latest report lis correct that the setback has j now been almost made good, the ' situation may be regarded as i quite reassuring. The other Allied forces, American and French. i have lost no ground, despite | counter-attacks, and their pressure must continue to constrict I the enemy forces. The ‘ltalians in some sectors are reported to be showing no relish for the figlu, but it would be a mistake to anticipate that lowering morale would prevail among them generally. The outlook overall is that the Allies have such a superiority irnundiers,- aircraft and munitionmint that the enemy’s only hope is simply a temporary setback here or there. The cumulative effect of the Allied air, tank, ar-1 tillery and infantry superiority ( must prevail, 'be the cleverness of the enemy tactics what they may.