SUPPLIES REACH GERMANS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15238, 31 December 1942, Page 3

SUPPLIES REACH GERMANS

IMPORTANCE OF TUNISIA RECOGNISED. (British Official Wireless). RUGBY, December 29. A correspondent at Allied Headquarters in North Africa stated that it was now more than a fortnight since the enemy last attempted to use his tanks in Tunisia. This may be due to many reasons, but it is generally thought the enemy lost tactical advantage since we regrouped and formed our present line.

Possibly the enemy’s losses of tanks are greater than, he can afford, and he is carefully nursing the remainder for an attack by either side. It seems obvious that our holding of Medjez El Bab always threatens Tunis, and the fact that the enemy has not thrown in all his available forces in an attempt to recapture the town appears to indicate that he is either saving up for a big attack or has decided that we are going to put one in. Wo are still sending thousands of troops to the line and the enemy is also bringing in reinforcements, al- # though our air forces have been taking heavy toll of them. Another important factor is that we are no longer at such a geographical disadvantage in the matter of airfields, and during the last fortnight our air activity seems to have grown and the Germans’ has diminished. Heavy rain has also had the effect of slowing down the tank type of warfare. The great work our sc*mit patrols are doing in No Man’s Land is illustrated by two Guards sergeants who, in making a reconnaissance. hid the whole day only 20 feet from the enemy, then brought hack valuable information to our lines, although both were wounded on the way back, A London cable states: Front-line despatches report that supplies are still reaching Nehring. and despite the R.A.F. and Navy attacks against the fittcily-Tunisin. ferry service, and the Allied ham-, mering of Tunis and Bizcrta, Axis infantry, armoured units, and artillery have all been considerably reinforced. Driving a record distance into, enemy territory, American Lightning fighters yesterday destroyed 21 German lorries from a convoy between Zavia and Medenine. Two-thirds of the vehicles which were moving troops and petrol westward were left aflame. In a sudden onslaught another group of Lightnings destroyed eight lorries 11 miles north of Pont du Fa-hs. Allied air support has been a big factor in the French advances near Font dp Fa-hs.