Allied Advance in Tunisia

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 54, 5 March 1943, Page 5

Allied Advance in Tunisia

Little Opposition in Centre and South (By Telegraph-—Tress Assn.—-Copyright.) LONDON, Mar. 3. The General Allied advance in Central and Southern Tunisia is continuing almost without resistance. Our troops over the whole of the northern area, backed by heavy guns, are maintaining pressure against the German positions. Meanwhile, the Berlin radio admits an embryo outflanking movement. It says: “A small British fighting group, not strong enough to operate independently, is stationed westwards of Rommel's defence zohe.” The British United Press correspondent in Algiers says the Germans have shown fight only in the north sector, again thrusting towards Beja yesterday, when a small Axis infantry force three miles northeast of Medjez el Bab advanced. The enemy at first progressed until the men of a famous British M: lands regiment dashed in and drove them back to “Hunt’s Gap”, where General Alexander, who was visiting the front, saw 25-pounders bombarding the retreating Axis forces. The Germans fell back two miles under murderous lire. Burning vehicles • which the enemy had abandoned, included 13 tanks which at one time were blazing fiercely. A second Axis thrust, supported by six tanks, came down the road 12 miles northeast of Beja. Our 25-pounders knocked out two tanks, whereupon the rest retired. A third Axis attack was launched along a road four miles northeast of Sedjanano and the enemy lost four armoured cars in this engagement before withdrawing. A correspondent says it is too early to shout about the position in North Tunisia because it still holds some daugers. The drives against our advanced positions were designed to keep us away from the Axis bridgeheads of Tunis and Bizerta. However, the enemy needs more strength in men and materials in the north sector to take advantage of the situation as it exists to-day. Reuter reveals that the Axis also used paratroops yesterday in the thrust against Beja. Yon Arnim has lost 2(5 tanks in Northern Tunisia in the pasf four days. Rommel last week personally Conducted the battle in the Ivasserine Pass. .He spent two days four miles from Kasserine. A North African communique states: Leading elements of the Allied forces yesterday pressed on to the south and southoast of Sbeitla. In the central sector there was little activity. PATROLS LINK UP LONDON, Mar. 3. Eighth Army forward patrols are reported to have linked up with American reconnaissance units pushing down toward Gafsa after taking Sbeitla. Reuter's Cairo correspondent reports that the Eighth Army's guns are now hammering Rommel's Mareth Line fortifications. According to the Berlin radio, three British infantry divisions and two tank brigades face the Germans and Italians in the Mareth Line. During a day of intense Allied air activity over North Africa on Tuesday, Flying-Officer P. Chambers, from New Zealand, shot down four Italian bombers in 20 minutes while patrolling over the sea.