BRITISH REGROUPING

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

BRITISH REGROUPING

PAUIS RADIO REPORT ANOTHER ATTACK EXPECTED (Reed. 'J2.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 25 The British forces in the Mareth sector are regrouping, according to the Paris radio. This follows a Berlin statement thab there was a lull in operations and a German military spokesman's comment that the British are again getting their breath and will certainly Start another drive soon. , Tiie Algiers radio says heavy fighting [s still going on and that the Germans Wo been able to establish a defence line iri front of Mareth. _ The Morocco radio claims that Gen®ral Montgomery has not yet thrown in tanks, although Rommel used almost Ws entire panzer force. The Paris radio, describing the Axis counter-attacks, says the Kighth Army, Jfter piercing the first deietices of the Mareth Lin", came up against a superbly camouflaged subterranean line "f,defence, from which Kommel surged them. Heavy German artillery Seised havoc among the British troops. «Wnmol immediately counter-attacked kfore the Ji- iii-h could recover. MESSINA BOMBED LONDON. March 21 Liberators of tho United States Air y J fce attacked Messina harbour, Sicily, wring daylight- yesterday, states a Y'ro message, liits were observed in j,' l6 vicinity of the ferry terminal and Reswore st;.rled. The American formalQn was attacked by two MesserS( 'htnitt 10/. one of which was proha% destrover! All aircraft returned safely. massacre of greeks STARVATION IN ATHENS 10.-,(j WASHINGTON, March 25 Tlie information office of Greece has jounced thai 20,000 nationals have slaughtered since the occupation J'lie Bulgarians massacred J-000 i n Thra'-e ami Macedonia and r OO "'ere killed in Crete as a reprisal I guerilla activities. Fwo thousand i I? Various parts of the mainland were | als o mas.samed. j *hase figures are exclusive of the I JS aoßa nclß c,f deaths from starvation. lhe death-r,'ite in Athens last year was to be 500 a day. Shipments of j eased the situation, hut the Athens death-rate is still 200 a day.