Evening star., 1943-02-23
Germans Throw In
Large Tank and
Infantry Units
MAI. GEORGE FIELDING ELIOT
cites grave possibility that
Rommel may trap Montgom-
ery's forces. Story on Page
Ais.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA, Feb. 23.-Brit-
ish and American tanks and in
fantry in the hills north of the
kasserine Gap have stopped
Marshal Erwin Rommels most
dangerous thrust within miles
of Thala, while Allied troops with
strong American air support
have beaten back his attack to-
ward the west in Central Tunisia.
One of the bitterest battles of the
Tunisian war still ragged today near
Thala, Is miles north of Kasserine
and the gateway to the strategically-
located Kremamsa plateau near the
Tunisian-Algerian frontier, where
British tanks and American gunners
stubbornly held off desperate Nazi
attempts to gain the Thala road
junction and crack the Allied front.
Making another stab from Kasser-
Inc Pass toward Tebessa, IL miles
west of the Tunisian-Algerian bor-
der, Nazi column of 40 tanks, mo-
torized infantry and mobile guns
ran into murderous American fire
on the road winding past the
Djebel HANNA.
Considerable Casualties.
Bombed by continuous relays of
American warplanes and shelled by
American guns, this column late
yesterday turned back toward its
sally port after suffering a "consid-
srable number" of casualties and
losing many tanks.
tThe employment of 40 tanks
In this jab represented two
fold increase of the force with
which Rommel first was reported
to have launched the attack to-
ward Tebessa.)
United States 18th Air Force
fighters and bombers attacked the
Kasserine bottleneck all day yester-
day, participating in more than 20
missions. Boston bombers destroyed
at least 6 Nazi tanks and 10 trucks
and left many other vehicles blazing,
while a large formation of Lightning
fighters poured devastating cannon
fire into trucks, guns and troops
trying to move forward through the
twisting valley to reinforce Rommel's
spearheads.
Airacobras also were thrown into
the heavy air counteroffensive.
+oJ LrtI al
was attacked by a formation of
Mitchell twin -motored bombers, but
clouds prevented observation of the
results.
May Force Change in Tactics.
Although the outcome of the
battle still was undecided, the fact
that the Nazis were being punished
more severely than ever before in
Tunisia made some observers believe
that the Axis marshal might have to
abandon his daring drive and estab-
nsh his forward line on the Kasse-
rine Pass.
Rommel's armored bids to take
Tebessa had resulted in a mauling of
his .spearheads, and possible threat
of the Allies to capture the gap itself
made uncertain the situation in the
rear of his column menacing Thala.
Meanwhile, no specific report
on the activities of the ground
forces of the British 9th Army of
Gen. Sir Bernard l.. Montgom-
cry, last announced attacking
outposts of the Bareth Line, in
Southern Tlnisia, was made to-
day.
(The British War Office in
London said the 9th Army's oper-
ations in Tunisia would no longer
be covered in communiques from
Cairo since these actions were a
part of the command covered by
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in
North Africa.
"a part of the North African
communique referring to patrol
actions "in all other sectors"
possibly was intended to cover
activities In the southern sector.)
Day of Heavy Fighting.
Today's communique said Allied
troops successfully held the enemy
at all points" in the area north and
northwest Of Kasserine, through a
day of heavy fighting in which
'Rommel threw in large tank ant
infantry forces.
1t added that "in all other sectors