UNDER HEAVY FIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25175, 16 March 1943, Page 3

UNDER HEAVY FIRE

MARETH LINE BOMBARDED ALUED COLUMNS MOVING UP LONDON. Mar. 15. In Southern Tunisia the whole of the Mareth Line is now being bombarded by the Eighth Army’s artillery. The New York Times correspondent (Mr Drew Middleton) believes that Marshal Rommel, who is full of fight, will make a fourth desperate attempt to stave off inevitable defeat, probably on a scale than the others. Mr Middleton sees the likelihood that Rommel will take another crack at the Eighth Army, hoping thereby to throw it into confusion and cripple its offensive. The indications are, however, that he will suffer such losses that General Montgomery will be able to hurl his own armoured divisions against the enemy, marking the last phase of the Tunisian operations. Mr Middleton thinks the Germans will be driven from Africa by the end of June as a prelude to an attack on Southern Europe. A correspondent with the British Eighth Army speaks of weapons and vehicles moving forward “ in masses. ’ Clouds of dust are continually rising, and he says that the size of the columns needs to be seen to be believed.

Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers says the limited British push against General von Arnim’s troops in the Sed Jenane area is progressing satisfactorily. The First Army’s object is to dislodge the enemy from high ground in the vicinity of Tamera. A small-scale German attack further south against Allied positions three miles north of Bouarada was thrown back. The Algiers radio said the Germans lost 3500 killed and wounded in attacks west of Sed Jenane. The radio also reported that French troops, after fierce hand-to-hand fighting, captured 11 parachutists attacking a train near Oran.

The enemy is obviously having difficulty in supplying his troops in the Northern Tamera-Sed Jenane sector, where the most recent fighting in Tunisia occurred, says a correspondent with the First Army. He had to make use of Stukas last night to supply his troops in forward area positions among the hills on the south side of the road. The Stukas dropped ammunition and food by parachute. Some of the canisters dropped in a minefield laid by our troops so that the enemy was unable to collect them.

Latest reports also Indicate that enemy tanks have been moved back to repair shops near Tunis. Special Hurricanes fitted with heavycalibre guns, primarily designed for at tacking armoured vehicles, have been in operation in the Western Desert campaigns since June of 1942. The Air Minister, Sir Archibald Sinclair, in the House of Commons referred to them as “tank busters.” The latest success of these aircraft was on March 10, when at least 20 enemy vehicles, a number of guns, and about 20 armoured cars were destroyed out of a number attacking Fighting French forces near Khar Rhilane. . . ' . These * aircraft made their first appearance on any battlefield in June last, and in their first engagement destroyed and immobilised many large vehicles. Although the weapon is a valuable contribution to our air striking force, it is not regarded as a weapon normally used for opposing or countering enemy armoured forces. Its German equivalent, several of which were captured in the recent advance, is considerably inferior in armament and performance, and so far lias not scored any success against our armoured forces. The special Hurricanes went into action again on the opening day of El Alamein, and secured hits on 19 tanks. In several days they destroyed a great number of vehicles, and confirmation of their success is forthcoming in the sweeping advance made by the Eighth Armv. through Daba Fuka. Now through the experimental' Stage, * the tank busters’have been in action again. The Daily Mail’s representative in Algiers reports that British troops yesterday attacked enemy positions on a high ridge south of Tamera, overlooking our positions and commanding the road to Sed Jenane. The initial attacx partly succeeded, but we finally- withdrew to the original positions.