Eighth Army Beyond Sfax

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22554, 12 April 1943, Page 5

Eighth Army Beyond Sfax

Danger for Afrika Korps Increasing

Allied Bid to Cut Line of Retreat

By Telegraph—New Zealand Press Association—Copyright (Received 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 10.

npHREE ALLIED columns, converging in an arc 20 miles * west of Kairouan, are pressing through the Central Tunisian mountain passes in a bid to cut off Rommel’s line of retreat. They are trying to close the 30 miles broad Kairouan-Sousse corridor before the Axis forces can slip through to the Tunis-Bizerta bridgehead.

Axis reports state that British tanks and infantry have joined Major-General Patton’s American forces for this new offensive which has already made advances east of Pichon, Ousseltia and Fonndouk.

The Morocco radio reports that an aircraft-carrier is co-operating with the land-based air forces in paralysing Rommel’s columns retreating along the coast. During daylong attacks against the retreating Axis forces Allied fighter-bombers destroyed at least 50 vehicles on Thursday when they swooped on a petrol refuelling point. Troops reaching the area the following day found the tangled burned-out wrecks around the petrol dump.

An Algiers report announces the capture of General Manerini, of the Italian Army, also his desert group headquarters.

The occupation of Sfax, a south-eastern Tunisian port, at 8 a.m. to-day was announced by wireless from Allied Force Headquarters. This followed the issue of a North African communique which states: “Forward elements of the Eighth Army were in contact with enemy rearguards with tanks and infantry. Our troops occupied Mahares after some enemy resistance. The advance continues. Successful attacks were started in the Fonndouk area on Thursday. British, French and American troops co-operated to secure the high ground north and south of Fonndouk. More than 500 prisoners were taken. Operations continue.”

“The Eighth Army is moving fast and Rommel is pulling out as quick os he can," says a radio commentator in North Africa to-day. He says the capture of Sfax, an Important supply port and road centre on the road to Sousse, is not the only notable Tunisian news. There is also the attack by British, French and American forces at Fondouk, and in the north things are going well. The commentator continues: “We see Rommel racing northward from Sfax across the open plan toward Sousse—a country where there is no defensive positions. We see the Allied forces bunching at the gap in the protecting wall of hills which defends Rommel's coastal retreat. In the north we see the First Army overcoming difficult country and stubborn resistance and carrying all its objectives. In short the Allies hold the initiative and are hitting where they want to and Rommel’s living space is shrinking rapidly. On Thursday Rommel held a line about 12 miles north of Akarit.’’ The commentator added that by noon he had retired. The Eighth Army hit him again in the afternoon, and by evening he began a general withdrawal. By 1.30 p.m. on Friday we had chased him to Mahares, 22 miles south of Sfax. Our advance continues with Rommel fleeing toward Sousse, menaced all the way by a break-through from the west. The commentator added that the Italians were extremely bitter at being left in the lurch at Wadi Akarit and he concluded with a piece of outstand-

ing news of air activity. He said: "This morning 27 enemy planes. Including 18 Junkers transports, were shot down by a formation of Lightnings. None of our planes was lost. The enemy formation was sighted between Sicily and Tunisia and shot to pieces in 15 minutes. Probably they were transports loaded with petrol and oil as several exploded when they hit the sea."

A late message from Algiers states that the Allied forces are advancing toward the coast east of Pichon, Fondouk and Ousseltia. Heavy fighting is in progress. According to the Algiers radio to-day, since March 22 nearly 20,000 Axis prisoners have been taken. Some belong to the German Nineteenth Light Division. There are also many Italians. During the same period 302 Axis planes have been shot down, compared with 110 of ours. Commander’s Message Lieut.-Genera! Sir Bernard Montgomery, in a personal message to the Eighth Army on Thursday, said: “If we collect prisoners at the present rate the enemy will soon have no infantry left to hold his positions.” The Allied forces in the northern plain of Tunisia continued their attack into the hills north-east of Medjez el Bab. states a correspondent with the Allied advance forces. Five peaks were the objectives. As the bear unpronounceable names the troops have christened them salt, mustard, pepper and sugar. Sugar, 2100 feet, is the highest and most difficult. Later the same afternoon an officer reported: “We have got all the condiments."

In the northern sector in the area between Medjez el Bab and Munchar further advances were made in the

face of considerable opposition over very difficult country. The attack has advanced 10 miles since Tuesday. A thousand German prisoners have been taken Yesterday fighters and fighterSpmbers maintained their attacks on Ziemy positions and communications. The fighters carried out offensive

sweeps and patrols along the entire front. Spitfires patrolling In the central sector intercepted a formation of 16 Junkers 88's. Eight of the enemy were destroyed. In the Enfidaville area Hurricane bombers attacked a concentration of troops and transports, destrpying several vehicles and damaging others. From all of these operations six of our aircraft are missing.

Further reports on air operations in recent days show that three more enemy aircraft were destroyed and six of ours are missing. According to earlier , messages, Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters says that the Axis retreat has increased Rommel's difficulties. Where he formerly held naturally defensive short positions, he has a 20-mlle front along which he must be watchful.

The First Army’s advance is being carried on in spite of very difficult terrain and unseasonable winds and rain which again transformed mountain tracks into glue-like mud, slowing up the movement. The fact that Axis convoys continue to bring in supplies indicates that Rommel intends to make a fighting stand sooner or later. The Algiers radio said the Germans sent in Stukas in an attempt to check the advance of the First Army. Allied planes, without loss to themselves, shot 'down 14 of them. Rommel in three days lost 250 planes. Correspondents continue to emphasise the terrific pounding the Allied air forces are giving the Axis, seriously disorganising Rommel’s retreat. They state the Italians are so shaken by the aerial bombardment that hundreds of Italian prisoners, hearing German aircraft overhead, flung themselves to the ground. The Germans were previously reported to be retiring from Mahares and from Mezzouna, 20 miles from Maknassie on the Maknassie-Sfax railway, where American pressure is increasing. Tough Fighting The German News Agency said there had been tough fighting at Ousseltia and Bouarada, also at Medjez el Bab and in the coastal area in the neighbourhood of Cap Serrat. The News Agency, admitting the abandonment of Pichon, says the Axis firmly maintained their mountain positions north and south of Pichon, where the Allies are attacking in order to support the British thrust in he vicinity of Medjez el Bab and Beja, aiming to tie down the Axis forces. The Algiers radio states that Americans from Maknassle have reached Mezzouna and that French and American forces operating east of Maknassie are on the point of joiningup with the Allied forces coming from the south.

Tire Algiers correspondent of the Associated Press reports that the United States Second Corps, mopping up east of El Guettar, has taken 1300 prisoners.

Rommel is evacuating key personnel and technicians from Tunisia, says the “Daily Express." In the past few days ferry transports between Messina (Sicily) and the Tunis-Bizerta defence ring have been working a shuttle service throughout the night, carrying in supplies and carrying out technicians. Many were brought down by Allied night fighters.

The Germans are using Junkers 52’s and obsolete Junkers 90’s, also some new four-engined transports withdrawn from Russia for taking supplies to Tunisia, particularly oil. This week 60 per cent, of Rommel’s supplies arrived by air, but after the capture of further advanced bases the Royal Air Force will establish a continuous fighter patrol along the coast, thus cutting down the Luftwaffe ferry. It is estimated that 100,000 Axis forces reached Tunisia by air.