SECOND EDITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24555, 10 April 1943, Page 8

SECOND EDITION

9500 PRISONERS EIGHTH ARMY'S TOTAL PROGRESS ALONG COAST RAPID ADVANCES MADE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Recti. 1.10 a.m.) LONDON. April 0 Despatches from Tunisia state that the Eighth Army spearhead is now 45 miles from Sfax and only 20 miles separates it from the American forces advancing from Maknassy toward the coast. Prisoners taken in the Eighth Army's area alone since the assault on Wadi el Akarit nowtotal over 9500. The Axis forces .ire m full headlong retreat from the Eighth Army, reports the Algiers radio. Allied planes are inflicting heavy losses. The First Army pierced (lie Axis lines jn the Madjez el Bab area, alter which it continued to advance and mopped up several pockets of resistance which were hampering progress. American 1 Progress The Americans pushing out irom Maknassy are reported to be attacking the German lines around Mezzouna, about 15 miles east of Maknassy, on the road to Ma ha res. The Americans in this area are only 20 miles from the Eighth Army advancing up the coast. A link-up would endanger all the Axis forces remaining in the vast area to the south and south-east. The Vichy radio says the new American attack in the direction of Qainvan is increasing in violence. Converging assaults were launched from Ousseltia Valley, Pichon and Eondouk. The radio added that General Anderson had again taken the initiative and resumed the offensive south of Cap Serrat, with the Germans stubbornly resisting. East of Maknassy the Americans are maintaining their attack, thus endangering Pommel's rear. Enemy Hastily Retreating Better's correspondent with the First Army in the Medjez el Bab area says the Germans in some sectors are hastily pulling back from mountain positions they have held for months and our advance is progressing satisfactorily. The First Army's casualties are not heavy, but the Germans suffered severely from our intense and accurate fire. The Zurich correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency says the Berlin military spokesman has adopted a pessimistic view of the operations in Tunisia. The spokesman said: "The decisive success of the Eighth Army and the undeniable consequences of General Montgomery's break through demand earnest consideration." Axis Front Crumbling The Ministry of Propaganda has instructed newspaper editors to prepare their readers for this: ''The Axis forces in Tunisia, because of the superior numbers and equipment of the Allies might be forced to positions from which escape might become increasingly dilficult, and finally impossible." A correspondent says the whole ol the Axis front in Southern Tunisia is beginning to crumble. A review of the latest German and Italian communiques seems to confirm this. The Italians say: "German and Italian formations, although isolated and by-passed by enemy columns, are fighting strenuously in the strongpoints assigned to them. In conformity with orders and in the face of violent Allied attacks, supported by strong air formations, our main forces withdrew to new positions."