PROGRESS TOWARD EL HAMMA

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24542, 26 March 1943, Page 3

PROGRESS TOWARD EL HAMMA

FRENCH AND AMERICAN ADVANCES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 25. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 25 Heavy fighting is still going on at the coastal end of the ftlareth Line, according to the latest messages, but no details were given of what has been happening there since the enemy succeeded in wiping out the greater part of the Eighth Army's bridgehead. Rommel's tanks and infantry fiercely counter-attacked the Mareth area for 24 hours, but the Eighth Army late yesterday had thrown back all attacks, says Reuter's correspondent with the Eighth Army; The British force which by-passed the Mareth Line to reach an area south-west of Gabes was last reported eight miles south of El Hamma, where it was grappling with enemy armoured units ; n a struggle equalling in ferocity the Mareth Gap battle. Messages from Algiers say that British forces operating behind Mareth captured a hill position at El Tabarga and another two miles toward LI Hamma in face of strong enemy armoured resistance. General Giraud s forces have pushed forward eastward along the northern shores of the salt lakes. Further north one American column has pushed forward in the Maknassy area and is less than 30 miles from the coast road between Sfax and Gabes, the life-line of the Axis forces in the Mareth zone.

It now looks as if the fight in Southern Tunisia will be more furious and violent than first reports indicated, says the Times. The enemy is still making the most of his interior lines and has struck with all his power at the Eighth Army. The paper points out that even in the course of the battle of El Alamein our forces suffered reverses, and although the present setback appears to have been heavier than any then encountered, there is no reason to suppose it will not be equally capable of being remedied. This may not be the last check the Allies will suffer before they carry their plans to a victorious conclusion, the Times adds. It does not rob them of their superior position or deprive them of their initiative. The ordeal by battle they have still to face may be severe, but there is no cause for despondency or lack of confidence in the ultimate issue. A Wilhelmstrasse military spokesman hinted that Rommel would withdraw from the Mareth Line and make his principal stand on the newly-constructed Rommel Line from Gabes to the Shott el Fejej salt lake. The spokesman explained that the Mareth Line is not panzer proof and not modern. The Rommel Line is considerably stronger. He admitted General Montgomery's superiority in men and material.