THRUST IN TUNISIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 39, 17 February 1943, Page 5

THRUST IN TUNISIA

NAZIS LAUNCH STRONG ATTACK LIGHT U.S. FORCES GIVE GROUND (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Recd. 7.45 p.m.) London, Feb. 15. The Germans in Tunisia launched a strong attack through the Faid Pass in the southern area of the 200mile Allied line. Yesterday at dawn the Nazis threw two heavy; panzer spearheads, believed to include some of Rommel’s tanks which got away from Libya, against the American forces holding the pass, while squadrons of German dive-bombers roared overhead to blast a way; through. The Americans had to give ground and the panzers fanned out through the western end of the pass and were followed by strong’ columns of German and Italian infantry.

Correspondents say that the Americans counter-attacked later in the morning but were forced by sheer weight of metal to withdraw again.

They are reported to Jiavc. fallen back toward a place about 30 miles west of the pass. Some reports say that by nightfall the Germans had advanced about 18 miles. It must be pointed out that Americans formed merely a containing force which was trying to keep the Germans pinned to the coast until the Eighth Army can hit, says the British United Press Algiers correspondent. Only light British forces were involved.

While the ground the Axis forces gained represent, a considerable loss for the Americans it cost Rommel a considerable number of men and also much equipment. The Associated Press correspondent with the American forces says the tank battle at Sbeitla, on the Faid Pass plateau, brought the American armoured vehicles—some of which were in their first major tank action —against an elite German panzer division which had been re-outfitted in Tunisia with the newest tanks and guns. The Germans threw in at least 100 tanks, which fought all day under frequent dive-bombing. American fighters and bombers swept the fighting area from dawn to dusk attacking enemy troops, tanks, and guns in the front line and his communications in the rear. The last official news from the battlefield was that heavy fighting was continuing. To the south-east, the British Eighth Army is still pushing deeper into Tunisia along the coast road. A correspondent says that our troops have been meeting with a new piece of German ingenuity in the shape of a mine which can be timed to go off at any hour within three weeks after it had been laid. It is "a pretty packet of trouble,” but our experts are dealing with it. In spite of troubles like this and bad weather, including floods, our men are all in rare spirits and anxious to get at the enemy again. After the strong attack against the Allied positions in central Tunisia, Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters says, the situation is under control. It was * major battle. The Germans launched two attacks, one against the Sidi Bouseid road, the other north from Faid.

Rommel’s panzers, serving as a spearhead, attacked at 7 a.m. yesterday, moving westwards from the Faid Pass. The German attack aimed either at enlarging the southern end of the German communication corridor or staging a major battle in the southern Tunisian area.

Great numbers of infantry behind tanks, with heavy support from divebombers, moved along the roads towards Sbeitla and by 9 a.m. reached the junction of the Sidi Bouseid road. Other tanks and infantry headed towards Sbeitla on a high ridge northwards.

The Germans simultaneously launched another attack from a hill north of Sened, crossing the Fald-Gafsa road and heading north-westwards. This attack threatens to isolate Gafsa. American armoured forces and units of the combat command hold the whole area under attack. German pressure forced them back to Sbeitla, but according to reports last evening they had the situation well under control. The Algiers correspondent of the British United Press reports that an Axis column advancing we£t ot the Faid Pass had moved up 18 miles by 6 p.m. yesterday, threatening the important American position at Sbeitla. The other Axis column had also advanced about 18 miles. An American unit stationed at Sidi Bouseid, between the two columns, counter-attacked, suffered losses, and withdrew westwards to avoid encirclement.

The Associated Press correspondent says that about 50 German tanks overwhelmed the American artillery positions guarding the west exit ot Faid Pass, then branched off north-west-wards ond south-westwards. The American anchor positions at Gafsa are obviously in danger of being cut off and it is assumed Gnfsa might be evacuated. The Americans at Sidi Bouseid suffered heavily.

American light bombers, from dawn until dusk, heavily strafed the troop concentrations, gun positons. and motor convoys n an attempt to weaken the enemy thrust. However, the stukas played an important role in Rommel's initial success, hilting the American ground forces hard. Berlin radio states that the Germans have occupied Sidi Bouseid and captured 21 tanks.