Americans Through Kasserine

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 50, 1 March 1943, Page 5

Americans Through Kasserine

Received Sunday, 11 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 28. * The Americans have now entered battle-scarred Kasserine, reports Reuter’s correspondent. Their patrols have already moved out of the town in the direction of Sbeitla, while other forces arc proceeding towards Feriana on the road to Gafsa. American longrange guns, from the mountains west of Feriana, are shelling enemy columns racing southwards. The Axis forces, in their twelve-day offensive, are estimated to have lost 80 tanks. The Germans, according to prisoners, planned to be in Tcbessa by to-morrow. Von Arnim threw in 12,000 infantrymen and 50 tanks over a 50-mile front for unsuccessful diversionary attacks, at dawn on Friday, in the northern sector. After Rommel’s initial attempt to smash the First Army before the Eighth Army attacks him from the south, it is possible to review last month’s campaign in which two major lessons were learned. Firstly, United States forces act best together in large units and not split into small elements operating witti other Allied forces. Secondly, it is preferable to keep thn available strength together rather than spread it over a long line where regrouping is difficult.