NEW BATTLE SOON

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21910, 14 December 1942, Page 3

NEW BATTLE SOON

HEAVY ARMS FOR ALLIES ENEMY’S BIG LOSSES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlybt) (Received Dec. 14, noon) LONDON, Dec. 13 The new battle for Medjez-el-Bab, a vital communication centre on the Tunis railway, is expected to begin at any moment, writes Reuter’s correspondent from the Tunisian battlefront today. The Allies are firmly holding the town and the roads from the Teburba area and Massicault. along which Nehring had launched tank and infantry drives, which had previously been repulsed after an estimated loss of one-half of the mechanised forces employed. The losses are insufficient to cause Nehring uneasiness, but he has altered his tactics, and is attempting infiltration, which the Allied patrols have halted. The future operations will depend largely on weather, the rains have softened the fields, but the roads are useable. The terrain permits the column from Massicault to move more rapidly than from Teburba. On both approaches to Medjez-el-Bab the Allies has sited batteries of British 25-pounders and French 75’s both which had previously taken heavy toll of the

panzers, often at short range.