The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-18
BATTLE TO CRACK
MARETH LINE SET
Yanks in Central Tunisia
to Withdraw to Hills to
Stop Nazi Tanks
BY WILLIAM B. DICKINSON

armored forces, rfenaced from the
rear by the advancing British Eighth
Army, has overrun the American
defense triangle hinged on Feriana,
Kasertne and Ebeitla In Central
Tunisia, 1t was announced today.
African communicates reported the
loss Of Feriana to Marshal Erwin
Rommels advance elements now
within IA miles Of Algeria and the
British entry Of Medenine, outpost
of the Mareth line, which the
Eighth Army was preparing to hur-
die In pursuit of Rommel's rear
guard.
After yielding the Central Tunis-
ian triangle, United States troops
were reported falling back onto the
high ground to the west, where
Rommel's armored units spearhead-
ed by big Mark vi tanks would lind
the going tougher.
A German broadcast heard at
North African headquarters said the
Nazi offensive in Tunisia was re-
garded as ended. Tentative opin-
ion there was that Rommel dared
not risk further advances westward
because Of the 9th Army threat.
Fighting was on q reduced scale
yesterday the headquarters COM
munique said. Leading elements Of
the enemy occupied Feriana, Kas.
serine and Sbeitla." u.
A broadcast italian communiuue
said American planes smashed at
Cagliari, Sardinia, killing 100 per-
sons and injuring 235 In O blow
against the Tunisian supply lines.
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgom.
ery's veterans, after entering Me-
denine, "Verdun Of the Mareth line"
were aiming at the heart Of that
Tunisian bulwark.
Medenine, SO miles from the Tu-
nissan border, Is on the edge OF the
Mareth line, which runs along the
Mahatma mountains from Foum
Tatouine, "a miles below Medinine,
through a strong point at Toujane
to Mareth, just below the Port Of
Gabes.
The Middle Eastern Commands
communique today reported that
British patrols were active yester-
day around Foum Tatouine, indi-
eating that the British intended to
60 through the line and around 1t
at the same time, swapping Axis
positions.
Radio Berlin announced that rear
guards Of the Afrika Korps had
Withdrawn behind the Mareth line
with main Axis forces, and this
seemed to be borne out by the lack
Of opposition to the Eighth Army.
Medenine Is regarded as q sort OF
outpost Of the line.
Enter Medenine
Forward elemtns of the Eighth
Army entered Medenine yesterday,
the Middle Eastern Command said,
so 1t was possible that even now
the assault to burst the Mareth
lipe was under way.
If the Mareth line yielded quickly
and the British threatened to
swamp the remnants of the Afrika
Korps, Marshal Erwin Rommel
might rush the forces with which
he has been showing back the Amer
leans in central Tunisia to the AZ
rika Korps' relief.
The Americans, It was expected.
would have to Withdraw to strong
positions in the hills Of Central Tu-
nisia, unless they soon stopped Axis
heavy tanks and infantry.
Some observers expected the
Afrika Korps to withdraw to the IA
mile strip between impossible Choot
Djerid and the sea, just above Gabes
and there make stand. Rommel
had widened out a considerable
corridor above Ckott Djerid.
The French built the Mareth line
In 1886 against the Italians in Trip
oil. 1t was decommissioned by the
Italians in 1910, when France fell,
and experts did not believe 1t would
offer a formidable obstacle to the
British.
The Eighth Army's air striking
force was reduced to limited activ-
tiles over the battle area yesterday,
because Of the weather, which did
not however, affect ground forces.
Allied planes based IN the middle
east continued their attacks against
Axis air fields, ports and railway
transport. Heavy bombers attacked
the air field ar ! harbor at HeFak.
Lion. Crete, Tuesday night. setting
two Gree.
The same night, Allied planes set
two locomotives on IRE IN southern
Sicily and seriously damaged three
others. Aircraft from Malta ma.
chine gunned Axis motor transport
in Tunisla yesterday. The Allies
missed only two planes from al op-
erptions.
a dispatch from Allied North
African headquarters said the "poss
slbllity was good" that the Germans
had taken feFiana, 20 miles from
the Algerian border, TIE last tOWn
n front Of TIE hui positions The
Americans ware eSpeeled - defend.
EBFiana y some % miles south.
west of Naia Pass from walsh Ne