NEW AXIS DRIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24531, 13 March 1943, Page 7

NEW AXIS DRIVE

MARETH LINE AREA HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES FRENCH EOIiCES JOIN LONDON, March I'J The Germans have launched .in other thrust against the Highth Army, this time at Ksar Hhilaue, south-west of the Mareth Line, a position not previously mentioned as having been reached by the Eighth Army. The attack has cost the enemy many men, and the battlefield is littered with burning vehicles. The Royal Air I 1 orce is lending the Eighth Army very effective support. Fighting continues. The United Press says that Rommel re-attacked at Ksar Uhilane apparently trying to protect his right wing, which extends right into the hills. Ksar l?hilane is a road juncture on the extreme south-west of the Mareth Line positions, beyond the .Mareth Line proper. Ketreat Before French An Algiers message reports that n small force of German tanks and armoured units engaged the French hefore the Mareth Line on Wednesday. The Germans retreated in disorder after losing a number of. tanks, lorries and armoured cars, on which Allied tighterbombs gained direct hits. The German force included some motorised intantry. At his press conference in Washington yesterday the Secretary of War, Mr. H. L. vStimson, slated that the

Fighting French had made contact with other French legions in a flanking movement, around the southern end of the Mareth Line, thereby sealing the trap on Rommel's troops. French forces have stormed and captured the important mining centre ot Metlaoui. about hall-way between Tozeur and Gafsa. They are now 21 miles from Gafsa. Pressure On Gafsa Threats to the rear of the Axis forces in the .Mareth Line are reappearing with the advances ot the Allied forces in Central Tunisia. The reoecupation of Gafsa, which would provide a base for a thrust along the railway to Maknassi and the coast, is likely to be achieved soon. It is probable the enemy has already begun to evacuate Gafsa to avoid being trapped between the French. British and American columns pressing from the west and north. Mr. Stimson said that Allied forces in Tunisia had much the better of the fight in the past week. Highly mobile Axis forces had been extremely active, but the net result bad been decidedly unfavourable to the Axis. During ten days of sharp lighting the Allied forces backed toward the Algerian border, but subsequently regained most of the lost ground.