BOXED-IN ARMIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24554, 9 April 1943, Page 3

BOXED-IN ARMIES

AXIS IN TUNISIA NARROW STRIP HELD ITALY'S LAST BASTION LONDON. April 8 For the first time in North Africa Rommel, together with von Arnim, is completely boxed in. They are in a narrow rectangular strip of land roughly 200 miles long by 40 to 70 miles wide. At the southern end of it is the Eighth Army, with the Second American Corps on its left flank. On the other landward side of the box is a long backbone of hills, which form a natural defensive barrier to the coastal plains inside the box itself. The Germans still hold these hills and have fortified any passes through which the Allied armies are likely to break. American attacks south of Maknassy are said to have taken the lines already to the mouth of the most southerly of these passes and Allied forces further north are known to be massed in the areas leading to other passes.

Allied forces are consolidating their positions in the Cap Serrat sector and have taken some prisoners.

According to the British United Press correspondent in Tunisia, Rommel has no defensive positions until he reaches a point 15 miles beyond Wadi el Akarit and no real line to hold on to until he is well above Susa.

Renter's military correspondent says Rommel cannot expect to find a suitable natural line to make a stand before Susa, which would mean a retreat of 150 miles. The correspondent adds that General Montgomery's offensive advanced with astonishing rapidity, which must have completely disconcerted Rommel It is now clear that the Germans were standing in their el Akarit position in great strength and once again General Montgomery smashed through with a frontal attack, which was a magnificent feat of administrative organisation, being launched on a major scale after only six days of preparation.

The Berlin radio to-night said: "The battle for Tunisia is continuing with undiminished violence." Referring to the events of yesterday, the radio said: "There were heavy, bitter battles all day. Montgomery's losses were heavy because he had to work his way forward through heavily-mined territory in the Wadi el Akarit area."

The Rome radio said: "The Axis in Tunisia suffered heavy casualties. The Allies have greatly superior numbers and equipment. It is, however, necessary for the Axis to fight to the end since Tunisia is Italy's last bastion for the defence of Europe." SINGLE COMMAND FRENCH ANTI-AXIS FORCES (Heed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 7 General Giraud's spokesman, broadcasting over the Morocco radio, said: "General Giraud and General de Gaulle havo shaken hands. The gesture will bear fruit. Unity of the empire is on the way. Its benefits will soon become evident in the military sphere All French armed forces lighting the Axis will fight under a single command." DARING RAIDERS Q,SHIPS OFF NORWAY (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 7 Quoting a Swedish newspaper report from Oslo, the Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the British and Free Norwegians for some time have been using Q-sliips disguised as Axis merchantmen for raiding German putrol boats and shipping off the west coast of Norway. British crews have landed and even carried out patrols inland. They have probed the strength of the German coast fortifications at several points. DESTROYER IN 77 DAYS (Hectl. 7.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 7 The Charleston Navy Yard has established a new construct.ion record of 77 days for two destroyers which were launched to-dav. The previous best time was 91 davs.