Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-30
Churchill
Continued From First Page

derrating the task which confronts
the whole Allied forces in Tunisia."
But" he said, I'VE have every
reason to be satisfied with the
progress already made by our
superior forces and superior and
resolute commanders.
His announcement came as the
Rome radio broadcast the Italian
communique which acknowledged
that Allied pressure, with both ar
mored and infantry forces. had
increased in Tunisia and admitted
that Axis forces have occupied new
positions to avoid the enemys at
tempt at encirclement'
Mr.. Churchill also disclosed that
Ell HANNA, 20 miles west of Gabes,
had been occupied last night 1t was
the thanking objective which helped
break the back of the Mareth Line.
According to my latest informa-
tion," he said. we occupied Ell Ham,
ma last night. Our vanguards
passed through Gabes this morning.
New Zealand troops are those
who have already passed through
GabeS. They are actually in contact
with the enemy"
Mr.. Churchill told Commons that
since I informed the House last
week of the check sustained on the
Mareth front, the situation has
turned very much in our favor"
The Prime Minister said that the
enemy's losses had been high, and
that air power had played a large
part in breaking the German de-
lenses.
The decisive break through by
Gen. Freyberg's turning force was
aided to an extraordinary degree by
novel forms of intense air attack In
which many hundreds of British
aircraft were simultaneously en-
ployed," Mr.. Churchill said.
The enemy losses in men and
material, of course, has been very
serious TO him. and the panzer di-
visions in particular are remark
ably mauled and enfeebled."
1T is, however, too soon to say
what proportion of the Italian goth
and 2lst Army Corps have been left
behind" he quipped. Roars of
laughter greeted the statement
Operations are being prosecuted
with the utmost energy he went
on. 1T must be remembered this
new exploit of the desert must be
viewed in its relation to the general
scheme OF action on the whole Tu-
nissan front.
Warns Of Undertaking.
The very fine, unceasing ad-
vance of American forces and the
increasing activities on the French
sc ctor and on the front of the Brit
ish Isl Army all play their part in
the combinations of Gen. Dwight
Eisenhower as supreme commander
and his deputy, Gen. Sir (Harold)
Alexander"
Mr. Churchill said, however. he
could not close without a warning
against ANY undertaking of the
task which lies before the whole
group of Allied armies and air forces
in Tunisia."
The country is very difficult and
abounds in defensive positions" he
said.
Shortly afterward A. V. Alexan-
der, First Lord of the Admiralty.
told a Guildhall audience that the
capture of the Mareth Line and
Gabes foreshadowS the final ex-
tinction of Axis forces in North
Africa"
Sir James Grigg. war secretary.
meanwhile announced to the House
of Commons that the total number
of Italian prisoners of war held by
the British Empire was about 274, 900
up to two days ago.
Nazis Confirm Ell HANNA Fall.
Mr.. Churchill grinned but said
nothing further when the dean of
the House, 86-year-old Laborite
William j. Thorne called to him:
so you've got Rommel on the run
again?"
As Mr.. Churchill spoke in Com
mons, the German radio in broad
cast heard here by Reuters substan-
TALLY confirmed his report on FL
HANNA, saying that Indian and
New Zealand troops had by-passed
the German positions and had
reached the gates Of Ell HANNA"
Another German broadcast de-
clared that --latest American tanks
of the pilot type are being used In
the Ell HANNA sector"
No explanation was Immediately
available as to what was meant
BY pilot type tanks.
Gin Washington American Army