Six Attacks Beaten Off

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 51, 2 March 1943, Page 5

Six Attacks Beaten Off

LONDON, Feb. 28. On Saturday the Allies beat oft attacks at six points on their front. In one sector, a correspondent says, the attack was made by Italians, but in the other live German forces came up against the British troops. Seven enemy tanks were knocked out, making 14 for the two days and the prisoners taken now number over 850. One of the German thrusts penetrated the British line to a depth of 10 miles, but the enemy was later forced to withdraw. The correspondent explains that the line is not held strongly in all parts, but consists of numbers of powerfullyheld positions, and the enemy can slip through at some points on the 70-mile front which the enemy attacked. Correspondents giving details of the most serious attacks in the Axis sixpoint thrust say that the enemy jabbed along the 70-mjle front from Cap Seratt to Djebel Mansour. The Germans attacking in the Beja-Mateur Valley made initial progress until the new Churchill tanks engaged them and destroyed seven enemy tanks. The German attack near Medjez el Bab was brought to a standstill, while further south near Goubellat a group of German tanks reached the Medjez el Bab Aroussa Road, but withdrew when they failed to overcome Allied strong-points. The German attacks against Bouarada and Djebel Mansour were both dangerous, but all the onslaughts failed.

Von Arnim's blows were aimed against Allied positions which might serve as springboards for a large-scale offensive. The Axis forces encountered the tough First Army units, mostly British, who held their ground and hit back strongly. The Italians attacked in the Cap Seratt sector, but were beaten back by General Giraud’s men.

Rommel’s forces are stil withdarwing in Central Tunisia and are nearly back to the line they held a fortnight ago. During their withdrawal the enemy forces are being strafed by Allied guns holding positions in the hills. During the day 12 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Two of ours were lost but the pilot of one is safe. A later message states that the Allies have entered Feriana 20 miles south of Kasseriue.