TWO-WAY SQUEEZE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 66, 20 March 1943, Page 5

TWO-WAY SQUEEZE

AGAINST ROMMEL’S LINES IMPROVEMENT IN TUNISIA (By Telegraph—Press Assoc'atlon—Copyright) Reed. 6 p.m. London, March 18. With less than 100 miles separating the Eighth Army from the French and American forces under Genral Anderson advancing toward Gabes, a two-way squeeze against Rommel’s forces on the Mareth Line has begun. The British United Press correspondent in Algiers says that our forces near the coast have improved their positions, while the Eighth Army is maintaining its artillery bombardment of the Mareth Line. Some of our most advanced airfields before the Mareth Line are under almost constant shellfire because they are so close to the enemy lines. U.S. troops yesterday recaptured Gafsa without the loss of a single soldier, says the Associated Press correspondent with the American forces.

The Americans met only scattered small arms fire on the outskirts of Gafsa. American howitzers opened the assault and knocked out an Italian battery, while waves of American bombers pounded the enemy withdrawing along congested roads. Reuter says that after entering Gafsa. the Americans advanced and occupied Lola, at the south-eastern edge of the town, also a hill at Djebel Rekaik, six miles east of Gafsa. The attack against Gafsa began with an artillery barrage at 7.30 a.m., after which Mitchell bombers pounded the defences. Infantry attacked at 10 a.m. from the north and north-east, where the night previously they had taken up positions. Gafsa was occupied shortly after mid-day. According to Algiers radio, Rommel is keeping up a heavy artillery tire, trying to harass the Eighth Army’s preparations for an offensive. Reports state that von Arnim made some headway in a dawn attack in the Temartt region yesterday. A force estimated at two companies launched an attack after a brisk dive-bombing preparation and made a "hole” in a position held by British infantry. A German fighting patrol attempting another Axis probe approached British positions near Sisinsir, but was driven off. Later a British counter-attack completely restored the position. A North Africa communique states: “In the Mareth area in the north our positions were improved both during Tuesday night and during yesterday. In the south our patrols are active, inflicting losses on the enemy ana taking some prisoners. In southern Tunisia American, forces yesterday advanced 30 miles and captured Gafsa. Little enemy opposition was encountered, the enemy withdrawing to the south-east. Our patrols followed up to El Guettar, and a mobile French detachment co-operated. Many mines and booby traps had been laid to hamper our advance. "In northern Tunisia, west of Sed Jenane, as a result of heavy attacks, the enemy made local gains,' but later the position was restored by counterattacks. Fighting continues. Yesterday morning enemy troop concentrations in the Gafsa area were bombed. Our bombers throughout the day made low-level attacks on enemy vehicles- retreating from Gafsa. A number of trucks were destroyed and gun positions silenced. During the day one enemy fighter was destroyed? Fighters of the Western Desert Air Force destroyed one enemy figliter, but the weather has restricted operations in this area. From all these operations two of our planes are missing. but both the pilots are safe.”

The German news agency now states that General Montgomery's attacks against the Mareth Line, which at first appeared to be large scale, were really no more than local operations, but the Eighth Army clearly had completed its deployment. While the German news agency minimised the extent of the Eighth Army's attack, Goebbels’ new international information bureau stated: "Lively fighting before the Mareth Line continues. The 51st. British division attacked throughout yesterday with strong infantry forces, but were repelled with heavy losses” Earlier a Berlin correspondent of the German controlled S.T.B. agency reported that General Montgomery’s attack against the Mareth Line had assumed such proportions that it could be described as a real offensive and added: "Pressure against the Axis lines is increasing hourlyT