BIG EVENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25174, 15 March 1943, Page 3

BIG EVENTS

LOOMING IN TUNISIA LIMITED ATTACK IN NORTH (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 14. Following a report that a limited British attack had been launched in the north with the object of clearing the Germans from a position from which they were able to keep a road under fire it is reported that there is a lull in land activity in Tunisia. Tanks, guns, and men of the British, American, and French forces are massed on the perimeter of Hitler’s African bridgehead ready to ward off or deal great strokes, says the New York Times correspondent, Mr Drew Middleton, Allied officers and men believe that they are on the threshold of great events. Indeed, it seems that the crucial stage of the Tunisian campaign, which began with Rommel’s attack against the Eighth Army, will continue through the second Axis assault in the Mareth Line area and conclude with a combined attack by the First and Eighth Armies. The land front at present is quiet, except for occasional spirited patrols and brushes, but the air is buzzing with almost every type of Allied plane. These are busy harassing and bombing enemy targets, including the Tunisian docks, convoys of motor barges, ground positions, and railway yards. Many supply and munition dumps have been blown up, and fires started. Marshal Rommel, using 30 tanks and a large number of troops and divebombers, launched a new but fruitless attack against the Eighth Army positions, reports the Algiers radio. Rommel cannot be blind to General Leclerc’s threat, which could destroy the Axis lines of communication, says Mr Middleton, the New York Times correspondent. It is expected that a strong force will be detached from the main body of the Axis army to attack General Leclerc again. When he is forced to make his diversion, however, Marshal Rommel’s weakened army should be relatively easy prey for General Montgomery’s veterans. Further north, the enemy's efforts to penetrate the strong Allied positions in the Sed Jenane area indicate the importance General von Arnim attaches to reaching El Aboid, which is one of the few important passes not held by the enemy and through which the British tanks might rumble to Bizerta when the dry weather arrives. Reuter’s correspondent with the First Army says that batmen, orderlies, cooks, and other “camp followers” beat off a sharp attack against a British battalion headquarters in undulating country in the Sed Jenane area. Two German companies attacked, but the camp followers made such a determined stand that the Germans were forced to retreat.