The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-23
Nazi Mechanical Drive To-
wards ThaIa Believed
Checked
EIGHTH ARMY SEEKS
GERMAN WEAK POINTS
Allied Air Force Returns
to Fight; InfIiCts Dam,
age on Troops, Convoy
BY VIRGIL PTNKLEY

~4 VAAN0A4 = AkNAAA4&4 {.
UNITED Press Staff COrrespdOndentA
Allied Headquarters, North
Africa, February %. - (UP)
- American and British
forces, Stiffening against
Marshal Erwin Romnel'S
thrust north and northwest
Of KasSerine, have held the
enemy in check at all points,
inflicted heavy casualties,
and taken prisoners.
The fighting has been heavy In
that section, an Allied Headquarters
communique said today, but It ap-
peared that the drive Of the Ger-
man mechanical units, which yes
terday carried to within four miles
Of Thala, had been checked, %
least nomentarily.
Heavy losses have been inflicted
on the Germans, who are attempts
ing to knock out Allied positions
before the British Eighth Army,
moving up from the south, can
throw Its weight against Rommels
flank. The communique said that
In the last few days Of fighting -
considerable number Of enemy
tanks have been totally destroyed
and many others damaged"
Seeks Weak Points
The Eighth Army appeared I'd be
probing for weak points in the Ger
man positions around the Mareth
line. There was said to be patrol
activity but the main fighting be-
tween Gen. Sir Bernard L. Mont
gomery's forces and the Germans
consisted Of artillery duels between
Medenine and Mareth.
It still was not clear whether
Ronimel merely was seeking elbow
room In Tunisia or whether he
hoped to be able to swing suddenly
northward and harass communities
tons lines which the Allies will
need for an offensive against Tuilis
and Bizerte.
(The German ontrolled Radio
Vichy said that the prime objective
Of Rommel's offensive was the an
Inhalation Of American troops In the
area).
Air Force Returns
The main feature Of yesterdays
fighting was the return to action
Of the Allied air force. A total Of
II Allied planes were missing from
all operations, but they gave valu-
able assistance to the ground forces
particularly around the KaSserine
Pass. Many American flying units
participated in total Of more than
20 missions thrown at the KasSerine
gap where Allied pilots accounted
for scores Of enemy vehicles and
some tanks. The planes heavily
damaged tanks and trucks which
Rommel attempted to send through
the pass.
The Allies and the Germans still
were locked In battle about four
miles south Of Thala with Rom
mels' forces trying hard for q
break through. The Germans orig
lnally threw 40 tanks into this as.
sault but many have been put out
Of action by British and American
artillery and, so far as is known
here, they have not been reinforced.
Tanks Attack
Seeking to protect his flank in the
Thala area, Rommel hurled strong
attack yesterday in the direction Of
Djebel Hanna, q steep hill where
the main Tebessa- Kasserine road
crosses the pass. The last time the
Germans attempted to storm the
hill they used only 20 tanks. but this
time they hurled 20 more into the
battle.
BY mid-afternoon the Americans
had succeeded in checking the at
tack, destroying q number of tanks
and other vehicles with artillery
fire. Then the air force took q hand
In the fighting. and the enemy with
drew after getting a blasting.
American Douglas light bombers
were among the planes which at
tackled one German column moving
through the Kasserine Pass which
included infantry. tanks and .sups
port vehicles. Flying low, they ass-
(Tnntinuad m Pa0a A.