PRESSURE ON MARETH LINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24540, 24 March 1943, Page 3

PRESSURE ON MARETH LINE

OCCUPATION OF MAKNASSY REPORTED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 23. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 23 The British Eighth Army, advancing on a front extending six miles from the coast to the main road connecting Medenine and Mareth, has taken all preliminary objectives, says the British United rress correspondent at Allied headquarters. Heavy fighting js continuing. Many minefields have been cleared to enable the passage of British mechanised forces. United States columns in Central Tunisia, pressing to the east and south-east, are increasing their threat to the flank of Rommel s Mareth army. The Algiers radio reports that Maknassy has been occupied. An earlier report said the Americans, driving at the rate of 10 miles a day toward the coast from the Gafsa area, had covered 65 miles since the beginning of the drive on Wednesday. They had captured 'the village of Bou Hamad, eight miles east of El Guettar. General Giraud s forces have advanced several miles in the Gafsa area in spite of strong resistance, says the French communique. The Berlin radio admitted that forward Axis units at some points in the Mareth area avoided prolonged contact with the British forces, so as to be able to engage the enemy under more favourable conditions. The radio referred to British and American coastal units, but it is not known in London whether Americans are there. In Northern Tunisia the enemy has gained a little more ground. Allied forces are covering an important road junction about 10 miles from the coast. Reuter's correspondent says the main German effort still appears to be in the north. The Germans on Sunday attacked and captured Nefsa, a small railway station about two miles north-west of Jebel Abiod, west of Tamera, but the British established a line covering Jebel Abiod. Fighting is still going on. The Paris radio claims that more than 2000 Allied prisoners were taken in the Sed Jenane sector by Arnim's forces, which cut the Mateur-Tabarca road and occupied it at several points.