DOUBLE THREAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24541, 25 March 1943, Page 3

DOUBLE THREAT

PINCEKS MOVEMENT DESPERATE COUNTER-MOVE (Reed. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 24 The situation at El Guettar is regarded as well in hand. The German counter-attack is a, determined effort to prise apart the pincers closing in from the north and south of El Guettar, 50 miles north-west of El Hamma. American forces, after taking Maknassy with very little opposition, pushed on three miles and occupied a ridge essi of the village. One Allied army of the pincers movement is only 35 miles from the coast. Shonld this drive reach the Mediterranean seaboard Rommel's forces will be cut off from those of von Arnim in northern Tunisia. Rommel thus faces a double threat —encirclement behind the Mareth Lin6 and being cut off by the American and French forces in his rear. The British United Press correspondent with the United States forces reports that German tanks early on Tuesday morning, in a desperate attempt to break the trap closing in on Rommel, attacked the Americans south-east of El Guettar and at Had Jebel Aioun. 15 miles south-west of Pichon. American artillery on the high ground covering El Guettar stopped a force of 50 German tanks. NEFSA RECAPTURED SLIGHT RELIEF IN NORTH (Reed. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 24 The First Army has recaptured the Nefsa station in North Tunisia. This relieves the situation in the north to some extent, but it seems fairly certain that the enemy thrust in this area is still likely to become of major significance This should not be overlooked while attention is attracted by the drama of the converging armies in the south. AIR OPERATIONS LITTLE ENEMY OPPOSITION LONDON, March 23 "On Sunday night enemy concentrations between Mareth and Kettana were bombed and our bombers also attacked an enemy airfield near Si'ax," states the North African communique. "Yesterday Western Desert Air Force fighters attacked concentrations of enemy tanks and armoured cars south of F1 Hamma, .'52 tanks being hit and at least nine of them destroyed. "Light bombers attacked enemy positions south of Zarat. A fighter escort destroyed throe enemy fighters. Targets in the same area wore attacked by fighter-bombers. An enemv airfield at j Mezzouna was attacked by formations of medium light bombers. Fires were started among aircraft on the ground. During theso raids and offensive patrols by our fighters, nine enemy aircraft were destroyed. "Enemy vehicles were hit during a low-level attack by our fighters, which continued throughout the day. Other vehicles were destroyed on the northern front by our fighter-bombers. Docks at Palermo nud Sicily were heavily bombed and hits were seen on ships and along the quays. Six enemy fighters wore shot down. "Between Sicily and Tunisia an enemy convoy was attacked by our bombers. A troopship was hit and left on fire. Hits were also seen on a largo supply ship and an escort vessel. In combats with enemy air escorts eight enemy aircraft were destroyed. From these operations seven of our aircraft are missing. One pilot is known to bo safe." The slight enemy air opposition in the Mareth area is the subject of comment here, and it is considered that the strength of the direct Royal Air Force attacks—comparable to those in the El Alamein battle—has a bearing on the situation. At tho same time, the indirect support to tho Army of tho Royal Air Force by bombing convoys and communications generally must have drawn off much of the enemy's fighter strength and cut down his air power in the battle area. According to tho Middle East air communique, heavy bombers attacked Naples on Sunday night. Large fires were observed near the railway depot and oil installations. From these and other operations all our aircraft returned safely.