Rommel Makes No Further Move in Tunisia

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 58, 10 March 1943, Page 5

Rommel Makes No Further Move in Tunisia

Attack on Eighth Army Completely Failed (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 8. “The first round of the battle in Southern Tunisia has ended in favoiu of the Eighth Army. Rommel, having been decisively checked, made no move yesterday to resume his attacks. He left behind many killed, wounded ana captured. ’ ’ This statement by the Algiers radio is endorsed oy an Associated Press correspondent in North Africa, who said Rommel’s attack against the Eighth Army completely failed. Tne Algiers radio reported that air reconnaissance has shown that xtoniuiei nas large concentrations of men ana material along the whole length of tne Mareth Line and General Montgomery is expecting a new attack soon. The radio said Rommel’s forces which tne eighth Army mauled at the weea-ena consisted of a lignt division. it was Frenca troops who captured Redeyei, which is about 30 miles west, of Gafsa. The Algiers radio announced earlier that the Germans in the Tozeur sector, 30 miles soutn of Redeyef, were in danger of encirclement oy the Frenca troops, who were rapidly enveloping tne town. Reuter’s Algiers correspondent reports tnat it was American light armoured forces, who without casualty, completely routed a full Italian company in a mountain pass about twelve miles northwest of Gafsa. They killed a numoer, took prisoner 95, and destroyed or captured all the guns. The Berlin radio claims that the Axis forces, after the capture of Cap Serrat, advanced a considerable distance westward, and after fighting against British troops, took a mountain position controlling an important roaa junction. The loss of Cap Serrat is not yet admitted by the Allies. The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent with the First Army says that tank foi tank, the Churchill’s fighting against the Axis offensive proved a match >oi the boosted new German Mark 6, oi ‘ ‘ Tigers, ’ * which do not appear to make tne scheduled speed. Our gunners say they find them easy targets. Another encouraging feature is that our artillery fire was heavier than anything the enemy put up. Ail reports from prisoners confirm that the concentrated fire from our light and medium field guns has been one of the primary factors in preventing the Axis forces from exploiting their .original successes. However, the Germans hold the advantage in the use of mortars ana heavy machine-guns. More of these ana fewer Bren guns would have benefitea us in the latest battles.