Evening star., 1943-02-28
Repeated Axis Armored Attacks
Shattered in Northern Tunisio:
LONGEST Air Raids B|ast Axis
Allied Forces Nearing
TheIepte Airport
Below Kesserine
BY The Associated Press.

BY The Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA. Feb. 27.-Vet-
eran British troops, stoutly en-
trenched on the rugged heights
near the Bizerte-Tunis bridge
head, shattered repeated German
armored attacks along muddy
55-mile front today, while in
Central Tunisia American and
Allied combat teamScaptured the
town Of Kasserine and drove near
the Thelepte airport, Is miles to
the southwest
Throwing about so tanks into
short, stabbing attacks. supported
by probably as many as five battal-
ions of infantry, Col. Gen. Jurgen
Won Arnim tried but failed to break
into the strategic network Of roads
Immediately behind the British line.
From the area of Sidi Nsir, Is
miles northeast of Beja, to Jebel
Mansour, six miles southeast of Bou
Arada. Axis forces stormed forward
into devastating fire from British
artillery.
Strengthened with new tanks
including the Acton Churchills, the
British armor quickly counterat-
tackled and Allied warplanes pro-
vided close ground support.
Prisoners Increasing.
With the fighting still continuing,
the number of Axis troops taken
prisoner, which last night exceeded
400, was mounting steadily.
Six attacks were launched by the
enemy early yesterday and although
all were temporarily smashed the
pressure was renewed at two points,
field dispatches said late today.
Along the Mateur-B road,
where 30 tanks and one infantry
battalion began the assault, the
enemy still was trying for break
through in the Sidi Nsir Area.
In the area of Bou Arada. which
is held by the British the enemy was
attempting to dent the line after
the British destroyed seven out Of
20 German Panzers for the loss
Of one Churchill.
The northernmost limit of Won
Arnim's operations was the Mateur-
Tabarka road where a column of
700 men was repulsed. The southern
most limit was Jebel Mansour. whose
bleak summit has been a long-dis-
puted vantage point.
Other Attacks RepuLsed.
Other enemy attacks were driven
back from the vicinity of Medejez-
El-Bab and southwark from Goubel-
lat, this latter attack having been
planned to link up with the attack
northwest from Bou Arada and
pinch off a 10-mile British salient.
Far to the south, the British 9th
Army veterans of Gen. Sir Bernard
L. Montgomery wheeled into posi-
tions Immediately south Of the
Mareth Line without serious oppCSl
ton Medium bombers continued to
pound the French Notifications and
German airports.
The Allied pursuit of Marshal
Rommel's severely mauled columns
continued south and east Of Kas
serine Pass. The Germans were re-
ported demolishing installations at
the Thelepte airport, 43 miles north
west of Gafsa, preparatory to evacu-
alton.
The airfield lies only 7 miles
northeast Of Feriana, one of the
towns the Allies lost near the AL
gerian frontier before Rommel first
captured the Kasserine Pass, which
he could not hold.
Won Arnim Guesses Wrong.
AS for the German attacks in the
north, Won Arnln apparently be-
lieved the British positions had been
weakened because some armOr and
infantry had been rushed south 10
halt Rommels thWarted drive to
the vicinity Of Thala. He guessed
wrong. because the British hurled
back every assault by the Germans,
who employed several battalions Of
infantry and tank units at times
The initial German drive with two
battalions Of about 1000 troops mo-
tSee AFRICA, Page A-l6J