DRIVE IN NORTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24555, 10 April 1943, Page 7

DRIVE IN NORTH

27 MILES FROM TUNIS GERMANS FIGHT HARD BRITISH PRESS FORWARD LONDON, April 9 Describing the opening stages of the First Army's attack in Northern Tunisia, a correspondent who was there when the barrage opened says that gun flashes lit up the hills all around and, after the first bombardment, he saw red' tracers flying up in the neighbourhood of a .place roughly in the centre of the 12-mile front. Suddenly Verey lights shot up and showed our infantrymen pushing on over the road and attacking German positions on the first slopes. Many Germans were wiped out by the barrage, the correspondent says, but shere was fierce fighting at many of the enemy strongpoints. The Germans counter-attacked with mortar and machine-gun fire, but in spite of the tough opposition reports streaming back throughout the morning showed that the attack was going according to plan. By 1.2 o'clock the correspondent was driving up the road toward Zaghouan, while overhead squadrons of Spitfires kept the Luftwaffe out of the sky. Hew Offensive Area Discussing the significance of these operations, the correspondent points out that for weeks past the Germans have been trying to establish themselves in the dominating hill positions north and west of Medjez el Bab. These have become less secure since the First .. 'Army's success further north, where we advanced from Sed Jenane. Now this direct frontal attack promises to threaten Medjez el Bab completely and turn the northern front into an offensive rather than a defensive area. The Associated Press reports that the First Army is now within 27 miles of Tunis. The army is led by men who first crossed the Tunisian frontier in the middle of November, since _ when they have been fighting almost in the same area. They are opposed almost exclusively by Germans. Hilly Country The country over which they are attacking is mostly hills, and the Germans are stiffly resisting. Nevertheless, the British have pushed on to an average depth of from four to five miles river a front eight to 10 miles long. The Exchange Telegraph correspondent with the advanced forces says the attack was launched at 4 a.m. on Wednesday on the commanding heights held by the enemy in the Medjez el Bab area. Our troops by dawn had penetrated the enemy positions and were continuing their advance into the hills. British tanks wiped out many_ enemy strongpoints which gave the infantry trouble. The heaviest barrage ever known in Northern Tunisia preceded the attack. British guns of all calibres threw tons _ of high explosives into the enemy positions in the course of a'2o-minute non- . ' stop barrage. It appeared to catch the ] enemv by surprise, because it was long . before he replied. In the meantime the j British infantry was advancing into ( battle. The barrage died down as the ( infantry came in close contact with the enemy and for an hour the rat-tat of machine-guns was heard from the hills. (

Lower Hills Captured A message came with the first light of dawn that the lower hills had been Captured and that the infantry was pressing on. Enemy guns began to Jl operate, our artillery took up the challenge and then our tanks advanced toWard the foothills. They spread out and ■ the enemy was unable to find the ?'■ range with either guns or mortars. All % of the tanks went on steadily into the : enemy's positions, using their sixpounder shells, f: ' Although the enemy's mortar fire at ; r times was heavy, the infantry could bo ■ seen advancing across country toward the enenjy positions. The advance was not rapid, as the infantry had to wipe ; out many strongpoints.

MAPS SEIZED IN SWEDEN .(Herd s3O p.m.) STOCKHOLM. April » A Swedish official confiscated "highly detailed" maps of Norway and Sweden >•: found in a German freight car travelis ling in Sweden on route for Germany > iin Finland r lhe Swedish Foreign <* has ordered a full inquiry,; i