SECOND EDITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24542, 26 March 1943, Page 4

SECOND EDITION

ANOTHER BREACH MARETH LINE BATTLE TANKS GO INTO ACTION AMERICAN SUCCESSES By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Heed. 1.45 a.m.) LONDON, March The Algiers radio this morning stated that the Eighth Army had breached the Mareth Line near the coast and that tanks have gone into action. The Americans in the Gafsa sector repulsed an attack from an enemy division, wrecked numerous tanks and took 800 prisoners. Rommel has stiffened his resistance in the Maknassy region at the cost of many prisoners. The French pushing along Shott F1 Jerid have had to manoeuvre to keep up the advance. The battle for the Mareth Line continued yesterday with heavy artillery duels, says to-day's communique from Allied headquarters in North Airica. j The communique speaks of continued and widespread activity by Allied aiicraft in a nonstop campaign that correspondents call one of the most deadly of the whole African campaign. The official summary says: "Our bombers attacked the docks at Pliilipville, causing fires. Other bomber formations attacked enemy ail fields, tvhere many bombs found theii maik among aircraft on the ground. "Over the battle area in the south Allied aircraft attacked enemy targets over a wide area in the Mareth region and around El Hamma. A number ot enemy tanks and vehicles were destroyed. In the course of these operations 10 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Four of our planes are missing."