Evening star., 1943-03-30
RomnleI F|ees
Gabes Under
Heavy Assault
New Zealand Forces,
Leading Chase, Still
In Contact With Foe
BULLETIN.

NEW YORK (P). - The
Algiers radio in a broad
cast recorded by CHS to-
day said "The British
Navy has landed at Sfax"
on the route of Marshal
Rommels northward re-
treat in Tunisia.
Earlier Story on Page A-1.)
BY the Associated Press.
A junction in Tunisia between
Gen. B. L. Montgomery's British
9th Army and the American
forces of 1t. Gen. George S. Pat
ton, jr., appeared imminent to-
day as the British stormed
through Gabes and Ei HANNA
in pursuit of the fleeing Afrika
KorpS.
There still was distance of about
40 miles between the Americans and
the British, however, as Marshal
Erwin Rommels forces strove des-
perately to stem the onrush of the
British.
Occupation of Gabes and El
HANNA on opposite sides of the
Gabes bottleneck between the sea
and the salt lakes was announced
by North African Allied head
quarters communique today, and
the I'd New Zealand Division of 1t.
Gen. Bernard Cyril Freyberg con-
tinued the chase of Marshal Rommel
along the coastal road toward Sfax,
10 miles to the north.
Allied Planes Blast Retreat.
The German armor withdrew from
Gabes under a terrific Allied air
bombardment, as we'll as punish
ment from the sea delivered by
salvos of shells from Allied war;
ships.
Announcing the passage of New
Zealand troops through Gabes this
morning. Prime Minister Churchill
told the House of Commons in Lon
don that the vanguards were still IN
contact with the retreating enemy
forces north of Gabes.
Disclosing that the New Zealand
ers were the same force which out
f1anked the Mareth Line by taking
Ell HANNA, about 20 miles west of
Gabes. the Churchill announcement
indicated the Gabes gap already was
closed to retreat for any Axis forces
trapped in the 15-by-20-mi sack
south to the Mareth Line.
U. S. Forces Repel Thrusts.
A British broadcast recorded in
New York by the Federal Commui-
cations Commission said Marshal
Rommel had established new head
quarters at Ell Diem, 40 miles north
of Sfax.
Three German attacks were beat
en- off by an American column just
to the north in the Maknassy area,
where Allied flanking forces were
closest to the sea, and German
mines were delaying third Ameri-
can force east of Dondouk, although
this column was making some ad-
vance toward Kairouan.
Declaring that Territory and
strong points we're yielded in order
to maintain the troops fighting
power" Capt. Ludwig Sertorius,
German military commentator In a
Berlin broadcast, said "the second
phase of the big battle had ended
and limited that Rommel might at
tempt stand somewhere north Of
Gabes with the salt lakes protecting
his right flank.
French Close on KairOuan,
The British 9th Army at present
has no opportunity for out-flanking
movements since the salt swamps
of the Chotts are still impossible"
he said.
Gen. Montgomery must now
leave it to his American colleague,
Patton. to live up as best he can to
the basis strategic plan of Allied
offensive operations, he said, but
added that Gen. Patton's forces had
been greatly reinforced by fresh
reserves"
A French communique broadcast
from Algiers and recorded in Lon
don said the French column striking
toward Kairouan across the Ous-
seltia Plain had advanced more than
six miles despite tank-supported
counter-attacks and reached its OBJ
jectives
Pig-tailed Moroccan mountain
natives fighting with the British 1st
Army to the north also made prog
ress in the Tamera sector, the COM
munique said.