TUNISIAN CAMPAIGN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 61, 15 March 1943, Page 5

TUNISIAN CAMPAIGN

CRUCIAL STAGE AT HAND EISENHOWER’S ARMIES READY (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) Recd. 10 p.m. New York, March 14. “Tanks, guns and men of the British, American and French forces are massed on the perimeter of Hitler’s African bridgehead, ready to ward off or deal great strokes,” says the New York Times’ correspondent, Drew Middleton. “Allied officers and men believe they arc on the threshold of great events. "Indeed, it seems as if the crucial stage of the Tunisian campaign, which was begun with Rommel’s attack against the Eighth Army, will continue through the second Axis assault on the Mareth Line area and conclude with a combined attack by the First and Eighth Armies. ‘‘The land front is at present quiet except for occasional spirited patrols and brushes, but the air is buzzing with almost every type of Allied plane, busy harassing and bombing enemy targets, including Tunisian docks, convoys of motor barges, ground positions, and railway yards. Many supply and munition dumps have been blown up and fires started.”

Rommel, using 30 tanks and a large number of troops and divebombers, launched a new but fruitless attack against the Eighth Army positions, reports Algiers radio. “Rommel can't be blind to General Le Clerc's threat, which could destroy the Axis communication lines,” says Drew Middleton. “It is expected that a strong force will be detached from the main body of the Axis army to attack Le Clerc again. However, when forced to make his diversion, Rommel's weakened army should be a relatively easy prey for General Montgomery’s veterans. Further north, the enemy’s efforts to penetrate the strong Allied positions at the Sea Jenane area indicate the importance von Arnim attaches to reaching El Aboid, which is one of the few important passes not held by the enemy, and through which British tanks might rumble to Bizerta when the dry weather arrives." Reed. 6.30 p.m. Rugby, March 13.

General Eisenhower, in an order of the day to the armies under his control, said: “For the last three weeks the enemy has been attacking us in Tunisia, in the centre, the north and the south. Some of the fighting has been bitter. We suffered losses, but

the enemy has been once frustrated and twice defeated-, in attempts to break the Allied ring of encirclement. Probably further and desperate efforts will be made, but I know the troops of out> field armies will, witn the continued effective support of the naval and air forces, inexorably push him back to the sea and destroy him. I take this opportunity of expressing my pride in the inclusion of the Eighth Army and the Western Desert Air Force in the Allied forces in North Africa which I command. These forces will continue to typify the unified purpose of the British, French and Americans to force an unconditional Axis surrender.” —8.0.W.

allied air activity

WIDESPREAD OBJECTIVES Recd. 7 p.m. Rugby, March 13. Allied Air Force Headquarters in North Africa states: Normal patrol activity continued on all fronts in Tunisia yesterday. There was little activity on the Eighth Army front, where all our patrol lines remain unchanged. Our bombers yesterday heavily attacked the dock and railway yards at Susa, scoring many hits on both targets and leaving large fires. Objectives at Sneidville were bombed by a formation of medium bombers. Other medium bombers attacked a convoy of motor barges making for Tunis and sank at least three. Six enemy aircraft were destroyed during these operations. Last night our bombers started a large fire during an attack on the docks at Tunis. On the northern front fighter-bombers attacked enemy positions and roads in the Sed Jenane area. Fighters destroyed a number of enemy vehicles. The'Western Desert air force bombed and attacked enemv positions. In an attack by enemy lighter-bombers on one of oiir airfields one enemy plane was shot down by our lighters and four more by the anti-aircraft and small arms fire of the ground troops. One enemy bomber was destroyed the previous night. From all these operations three of our aircraft are missing. The R.A.F. Middle East communique states that shipping and harbour installations at Palermo were attacked by heavy and medium bombers on Thursday night, when fires were started. Other targets in Sicily were also attacked. One enemy bomber was destroyed off Tripoli. From these and other operations all our aircraft returned. —8.0.W.