THE BATTLE OF TUNISIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25213, 30 April 1943, Page 3

THE BATTLE OF TUNISIA

SLIGHT ALLIED GAINS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) CRec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, Apl. 29. Between the lines of to-day’s official communique from North Africa can be discerned something of the ferocity of the campaign now being waged in Tunisia. There is particularly fierce fighting on the First Army’s front near Mejez-el-Bab, and the French troops have made more local gains near Pont du Fahs. The enemy is maintaining his formidable resistance. The latest official communique says that fighting continued throughout yesterday. On the Eighth Army front our forward patrols were

very active. South-east of Mejez-el-Bab the First Army made some advance, but the enemy launched two strong counter-attacks. The first of these was repulsed with heavy losses in infantry and tanks, but the second forced our leading troops to make a slight withdrawal. In the Pont du Fahs area, the communique says, the French forces made further local gains, and the American Second Corps captured important ground. The air offensive against the Axis was maintained at full strength, and in addition to attacks on a

large number of targets 18 enemy planes were shot down for the loss of only two of our own.