AFRIKA KORPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1943, Page 3

AFRIKA KORPS

REPORTED COMPLETELY ROUTED FIERCE EIGHTH ARMY PURSUIT. FIRST ARMY MAKING HEADWAY TOWARDS TUNIS. (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 9. The Allies are relentlessly tightening their grip on' the Axis forces in Tunisia. The Algiers radio tonight declared that the Afrika Korps was completely routed and .in full retreat and that the ' Eighth Army 'was fiercely pursuing the enemy in the direction of Sfax. The radio added that the First Army simultaneously had advanced, bringing it considerably nearer to Tunis. The Americans are continuing their advance from El Guetar and 'mopping up the enemy and are also advancing north of Maknassi. ... „ The German News Agency admits tne evacuation of Pichon under British and French pressure, which suggests the development of an allied drive towards the coastal plain in the direction of Sousse, involving a threat to the attempted concentration of k Rommel’s forces northward. ’ The Algiers radio reported that the axis positions in the region of Mateur had been pierced to a great depth. The latest reports place the British spearheads half-way between Oudref and Maharesl The vanguards found the roads along which the Afrika Korps is struggling blocked with shattered enemy tanks and vehicles, providing evidence of the effect of the intense aerial bombardments which have incessantly plastered the Axis line of reThe Germans were previously reported to, be retiring from Mahares and from Mezzouna, 20 miles from Maknassi on the Mak-nassi-Sfax Railway, where American pressure is increasing. The German news agency said there had been tough fighting at Oussaltea and Bouarada, also at Medjez el Bab and in the north coast area in the neighbourhood of Cap Serrat. The news agency, admitting the abandonment of Pidhon, says the Axis had firmly maintained positions northward and southward of Pichon, where the Allies are attacking in order to support the British thrust in the vicinity of Hedjez el Bab and Beja, aiming to tie down the Axis forces. The Algiers radio states that the Americans from Maknassi reached Mezzouna and added that French and American forces, operating east of Maknassi, are on the point of joining up with the Allied forces coming from the south. The Associated Press Algiers correspondent reports that the United States Second Corps, mopping up east of El Guetar, has taken 1,300 Axis prisoners.