Evening star., 1943-02-17
U.S.Losses Heavy,
Foe at Outskirts
Of SbeitIu
MAP on Page A.

as battle-hardened German tank
forces of Marshal Erwin Romme
ripped 18 miles through Ameri-
can lines and threatened to cut
the Allied front IN the middle.
A communique said Nazi columns
had driven to the outskirts oi
Sheitla, 38 miles from the Tunisian-
Algerian frontier, and were advanc-
ing on Feriana, only II miles from
the border.
Explaining the setback, an Allied
headquarters officer commented
Even experienced troops can be
overthrown by sudden heavy tank
attack, and it is not surprising that
the Americans had to withdraw be-
cause they held long line with only
light tanks"
A headquarters source also de-
clared the British 9th Army was ad-
vancing at such rate from the
Tripolitania- -TuniSia border that it
would soon bring pressure to bear on
the Germans in the south and might
begin to restore the situation.
The American counterattack which
had showed Rommel's armor back 6
miles on Monday faded yesterday
under heavy losses of men and
armored vehicles.
A number of American units were
cut off in the rush of the German
forces and had not been heard from,
but Allied headquarters hoped they
would be able to win their way back
to the main forces.
Huge New Tanks Used.
The combined forces of the Ger
man 21st ard 10th Armored Divi-
sions, using a number of the Ger
mans huge new Mark VI tanks, as
well as old models salvaged from
Libya, punched through the Ameri-
can lines for their gain in furious
battles which ragged from dawn to
dusk.
In three days Rommel had thus
smashed forward for a total gain of
about 35 miles west of Faid Pass,
and the Allies were being pressed
back almost to the Algerian frontier.
with American tenure of Sbeitla, 100
miles from the east coast, extremely
uncertain. -sz-r
Meanwhile, German column
pushed northward from Gafsa, in
the south, toward Feriana, although
pounded with bombs from Allied
raiders.
Apparently the two German COL
umns were aiming at a junction at
Feriana. There the Germans would
be IN position to strike northwest
ward to sever the network of Allied
communications between the for
ward lines and their Algerian bases
of Bone, Bougie and Algiers.
BY such drive, however, the Ger
mans would appear to be disregard
ing the danger to their rear from
the British 9Th Army ITO miles to
the southeast.
Sth Army Advances.
The German controlled Paris
radio, heard by Reuters in London,
reported, however, that the 9th
Army was pushing strongly in
the south and was attempting to
inflltrate through the German-Ital-
ian right flank in the Mareth Line.
The Cairo communicate said Gen.
3. L. Montgomery forces on the
Axis left flank were heading toward
Medinnine in the Mareth Line. IS
miles inside the Tunisian frontier
The British radio said these forces
were "a good 20 miles" west of Ben
Gardane, 20 miles inside Tunisia.
The Paris radio said the Ameri-
cans to the south Of the Sidi Bou-
zid sector also were continuing to
retreat from the Gafsa area and
were withdrawing in the direction
of Tozeur on the north bank Of the
Chott Djerid.
The latest German thrust seri-
ously jeopardized British positions
about Is miles north of Faid Pass
on the ridge on the east SIDE of the
Ousseltia Valley. The British flank
had been opened by the German
maneuver.
The new German Mark VI tanks
have especially heavy armor, re.
ported to be up to 7l2 inches thick
and high-yelocity guns which made
them difficult for American anti
tank artillery to stop,
Estimates of their size range from
so to 62 tons, but Allied forces
have been unable to retrieve any
of them sufficiently whole to ge
exact information. Two Wert
knocked out by Allied artillery {
few weeks ago.
Fighting Near Sbeitla.
A communique from Allied head.
quarters here said armored battle!
were fought throughout the day yes.
terday on the Southern TuniSiar
front
Opposing armored forces wer'
engaged throughout the day on tn,
southern front" the cOmmuniqut
said. AT the end Of the day fight.
ing was still in progress on the out.
skirts Of Sbeitla"
Yesterday it was reported that the
Americans, who had lost 20 mile!
in the first rush of Rommels often.
sive Sunday, had gained back
miles.
The communique did not make
clear whether the Germans attack,
ing on the outskirts Of Sbeltla wer,
those previously engaged in the vi
cinity of Sid Bouzld, or whethe
they had attacked from a differen
direction, perhaps the northeast.
The communique said roads be-
hind the enemy's lines were heavil,
bombed the last two nights, anc
that light bombers attacked man!
ground targets at the front yester'
Gay, including gun positions anc
vehicles.
New Nazi Drive Seen.
A new German drive down thu
Ousseltia Valley to put AXIS Tu
nisian forces astride a long noun