Evening star., 1943-03-25
Patton Forces Repu|se Attacks;
Moreth Line Activity Dwind|es;
Reds Press On oword Smo|ensk
Gufsu Sector Holds,
In Moknossy Area
Local Coins Made
B. the Associated Press.

6N Inc associated ITbSb.
American troops repuIsed
heavy Nazi armored attacks in
the Gafsa sector and made local
gains in the Maknassy area of
the Central Tunisian front while
the battle of the Mareth Line
dWindled to artillery dueling
after four days Of bitter fighting
1t was announced today at Allied
headquarters in North Africa.
Military quarters said strong re-
sistance and rigorous Counterattacks
by Field Marshal Erwin Rommels
forces prevented further major
Allied gains for the time being and.
in some cases. wiped out advances
achieved a few days earlier.
Advices from the Southern Tuni-
sian front late last night were that
German cotnterassaults had largely
wiped out the advances made by the
British 9th Army in driving a wedge
into the upper end of the Mareth
Line.
In sight of the battling ground
troops, British and American light
bombers hammered important Axis
armored positions near the town of
Mareth.
No Mention of Task Force.
In the communique today there
was no mention of the task force
which flanked Rommel's positions
and was last reported eight miles
from El HANNA, Axis air base at
the rear Of the Notifications and
20 miles west of Gabes.
American air forces bombed Axis
troops and installations almost con-
tinuously in support of the forces
of both 1t. Gen. George S. Patton.
jr, in the Gafsa sector and Gen. Sir
Bernard L. Montgomery in the south,
Flying Fortresses launched heavy
attack on Ferryville, near Bizerte
which is now one of the main
Tunisian ports of entry for Axis
supplies. Observers said heavy dam
age was done to the docks and bomb
set fires sent flames 500 feet into
the air.
Three merchant vessels were
believed to have been hit. An RAF
pilot, one of the escort made up of
British Spitfires and American
lightning fighters, said the bombing
was the most accurate he had ever
seen.
Position Not Clear.
The Algiers radio. In broadcast
recorded in London, said the 9th
Army has been able to hold its
bridgehead in enemy fortified lines"
London military quarters, however,
said later that they had no in
formation as to whether the pres
ent positions Of the 9th Army still
showed any advance from the
original lines held when. the often
sive opened
In the Gafsa sector, American
patrols carried out offensive opera
tions with success" the Allied COM
munique declared, and Allied aerial
squadrons, attacking by night and
day. bombed and shot up Axis con-
centrations along 20-mile stretch
between Mareth and Gabes.
Front line dispatches said Amer
lean troops, under command of
Gen. Patton yesterday won control
OF the last mountain ramparts over
looking the narrowing Axis corridor
between Maknessy and the sea and
pushed on toward Mezzouna under
heavy Axis bombing attacks.
American patrols Clashed with
Axis forces in an indecisive action
at the town of Mehri Zebbeus, some
at the town of Meheri Zebbeus, some
miles north of Maknassy.
Other American troops threw back
Axis armored forces in the El Guetar
Oasis region. it was reported, when
the Nazis made futile attempt to
seize the heights northwest of
Djebel Berda.
Nazis Claim Repulse.
The German high command gave
this terse summary of the battle:
Attacks launched by superior en-
emy forces at various sectors Of the
Tunisian front were repulsed in vio-
lent fighting"
In London British military COM
mentator, taking a more optimistic
view of the Tunisian operations.
emphasized the setback announced
yesterday in the Mareth Line was
no reason for gloom"
we must remember" he said.
(See AFRICA, Page A-30