BOLD NIGHT ATTACKS

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

BOLD NIGHT ATTACKS

EIGHTH ARMY FORAYS PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS (Reed. 0.80 p.m.) LONDON, March 22 It can now be revealed that a "secret battle" preceded the main assault against the Mareth Line, says the Daily Mail's correspondent with the Eighth Army. This was a series of bold night attacks on March 16, when the enemy was expelled from somo of his outposts. Strong bodies of infantry accompanied by sappers crept silently across No-Man's-Land, which was several miles wide, under a bright moon. They cleared a path through the heavy minefield, attacked a very strongly-held position, took many prisoners and inflicted heavy casualties. They took all their objectives in front of the northern sector of the Mareth Line, from the coast to the neighbourhood of the main road which runs from Medenino to Mareth. Farther north a second attack on March 18 brought our positions to within two miles of the Mareth Line proper. The Italians who held this sector fought stubbornly, but eventually were overwhelmed. TURKISH MISSION LONDON, March 23 The Turkish Military Mission to North Africa yesterday met General Eisenhower and other Allied leaders. The members of the mission will leave Allied headquarters to-day for an undisclosed destination. ADMINISTRATION CHANGE LONDON, March 23 A well-known French surgeon has been appointed Secretary for Political Affairs in General Giraud's administration in place of M. Jean Rigaud, who resigned a few days ago. FRENCH GUIANA OBSCURITY OF STATUS (Recti. 1.0.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 23 The Morocco radio says that General Giraud has appointed a Governor of French Guiana and that General de Gaulle also has announced his intention to appoint a Governor. A cablegram published yesterday said French Guiana had rallied to General de Gaulle, and not to General Giraud, as previously reported. Tho New York Times said that French Guiana's sudden turnover to General de Gaulle had thrown the situation surrounding the French possessions in the Western Hemisphere into confusion. It was reported also that General de Gaulle had appointed M. Maurice Bertaut as Governor of French Guiana. PERSIA-IRAK COMMAND LONDON, March 23 General Sir Henry Pownall, the new chief of the Persia-Irak Command, is expected to arrive in Bagdad to-day to take up his post. He succeeds General Sir Henry Maitland-Wilson. who is now Commander-in-Chief, Middle East.