MATEUR HEIGHTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22475, 9 January 1943, Page 5

MATEUR HEIGHTS

Powerful German Attacks

Considerable Weight Of

Armour

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright LONDON, January 7.

The British United Press corre-

spondent at Allied Headquarters says that the heights west of Mateur, which the Germans have retaken, were of great importance in defending the south-west appproaches to Bizerta. The Germans apparently determined to defend them with all available power. The quick, heavy nature of the German counter-attack indicates that they will fight inch by inch in the positional battles now being fought.

The Germans now hold Jebel Assig, a 1200-foot hill 15 miles west ul Mateur, and an unnamed hill slightly to the north. After holding the heights for about 24 hours the Allies were dislodged by powerful counterattacks, in spite of support from the Royal Air Force. The German advance at daylight left some British troops in such an exposed position that they were ordered to withdraw after dark. Two forces of Boston bombers, escorted by fighters, yesterday attacked, with good results, a military camp south of Kirwan. The bombers several times directly hit the railway yard and large buildings on both sides of it. The correspondent of the “Daily Express” on the Tunisian front says that the Germans are now supported by a considerable weight of armour and personnel for land warfare. The personnel, which has been landed on the main roads by big troop-carriers, consist of experienced tank-technici-ans, machine-gun, mortar and and artillery experts, first-class antiaircraft battery crews and infantry. French Advance After three days of fierce fighting General le Clerc’s Fighting French forces advancing northwards from their Chad base, 1000 miles away, stormed and captured a strong enemy outpost in Fezzan. Fezzan, which forms the southern part of Tripolltania, was occupied by Italian troops towards the end of 1913. Extending some 400 miles north and south and some 300 miles east and west, it belongs properly to the desert region of North Africa. The inhabitants are Arab Berbers, who belong mainly to the Gunnite sect of Mohammedans, and are nomads. A little agriculture and much date cultivation are carried on in the few bases, the most important of which are those of Ghat, in the extreme south-west, arid Murzuk, which is more central. Eighth Army Patrols Active “Yesterday there was nothing to report from our land forces except patrol activity," states a Cairo communique. “There was a slight increase in air activity over the battle area. The enemy attempted one or two fighter bomber attacks, causing a little damage. Three Messerschmitt 109’s were shot down by ground fire. “Allied bombers attacked Sousse on Tuesday night, starting fires in a railway siding and near quays. Offensive operations were carried out over Sicily and Lampedusa Island yesterday. From these and other operations two of our aircraft did not return."