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The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

The Desert Army assaulted the Akarit position in the darkness of a moonless night. The enemy were surprised and overwhelmed. Their front is broken. The 30th Corps holds all the dominant key positions. The 10th Corps, with your Division as ever in the van, has been hurled through the gap into the open country. Two thousand prisoners were taken in the first six hours. Others are flowing in.

This operation is the first of a series of battles now to be delivered by the 18th Army Group under General Alexander, and I look for considerable mauling of the enemy before he gets back to the Tunisian tip, where he is already being strongly attacked by the First Army.

Please keep all military details secret until official announcements are made.

Every good wish.