Evening star., 1943-03-29
Afriicu
Continued From First Page )

were coupled with Allied gains both
at the center and in the north.
I'm the Maknassy and Fondouk
areas to the north) our patrols
were very active the communioue
announced.
I'm the north in the Djebel Aboid
area (some so miles southwest of
Bizerte) local advances were made
and considerable number of
prisoners were taken"
Ninth Day of Offensive.
The Axis collapse came on the
ninth day OF Gen. Montgomery's
offensive against the mountainous
Mareth Line positions. 1t was the
same time that Gen. Montgomery s
men. artillery and bombers needed
to break through Rommel's first
line at Ell Alamein, 1900 miles far
ther east
The attack on Ell HANNA. which
cut to Is miles the Axis corridor
| past GabeS, was made with the
powerful and very effective support
OF our air forces" the communicate
said.
1t reported the enemy lost heavily
in tanks. guns and motor transport
as well as men.
Many Germans were taken pris-
oner,' it said. Fierce fighting con-
tinued in this area during March 27
with our troops making good
progress.
Three Places Occupied.
The whole of the strong organ
lied defenses of the Mareth positions
are now in our hands and our troops
on March % occupied Mareth, Tou-
jane and Matmata."
although the communioue did
not claim Ell HANNA had actually
fallen, an Algiers radio broadcast
recorded by the Associated Press
IN London before issuance of the
ofnclal bulletin said it had Just
been announced that "Montgom-
erys troops were in Ell HANNA"
(The German high command
announced that while Allied at
tempts to encircle Axis troops in
southern Tunisia had been frus-
trated German and Italian for
nations Systematically moved in
to new positions in this front Sec
tor. This is the phraseology
usually employed when German
forces are withdrawing.
Enemy forces were repulsed
everywhere and heavy losses
We're inflicted on them" said the
communlque, broadcast from
Berlin and recorded by the AS
sociated Press.)
Fields Plowed Up.
The whole desert campaign from
Ell Alamein westward has been
marked by the plowing up of Axis
air fields. which makes the ground
too soft for the landing of fighters.
bombers and transports, on the eve
of retreat.
Duststorms bothered airmen on
the southern front.
But Allied squadrons hammered
the Withdrawing Germans and
Italians heavily, operating from
some fields captured undamaged, in
Guiding one at Ell HANNA.
British ground forces in the Ell
HANNA area moved up after a ter
rifle air attack Friday afternoon.
The attack was so intense that even
elite German troops were thrown
into confusion and broke under the
strain.
Bombs of one raiding formation
were still bursting as the planes of
the succeeding formation arrived
over the targets. From 80 to 100
Axis vehicles were destroyed.
The aerial bombardment was fol-
lowed up by an artillery shelling and
finally by rifle and bayonet attack.
Some Continue to Fight.
There was little fight left in many
Germans when the final ground
assault was made, though some in
Well-protected areas battled to the
end. It was the hour which the
British desert fighters had been
| awaiting since Gen. Montgomery
dispatched them around the south
ern end of the Mareth line last week
in sweeping flanking movement.
The desert fighters were reported
only Is miles short of closing the
Gabes Gap when Rommel gave way.
His position at Gabes is certainly
vulnerable.
AS usual. Rommel left many rear
guard parties to cover his with
drawal and to delay the 9th Army
by planting mines and BOBBY traps
and demolishing communication IA
cilities.
Gen. Patton's forces, in addi-
ton to holding the dominating posi-
ton at Fondouk. are installed in
the passes at Ell Guetar and Max
naSSy in good positions to uncork