Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-14
9Th Army's Drive
Comedies With Air
Smash in Tunisia
U. S. Bombers BIust
Axis-HeId Hurbors of
Bizerte, Tunis, Sousse
Y the Associated PreS6


LONDON, Dec. 14.-The Jaws
of an Allied nutcracker offensive
closed tighter today around Axis
forces battling to retain a foot
hold in North Africa as the
British 9Th Army swept westward
across Libya in a mighty new
drive timed to coincide with
smashing aerial assaults on the
enemy's strongholds in Tunisia.
The eagerly-awaited news that the
9th Army had resumed its push
came in brief official announce
ment from Cairo that Marshal
Erwin Rommel's forces had been
driven from strong positions at Ell
Agheila and were retreating toward
Tripoli, 400 miles to the west.
The announcement followed swift
ly dispatches from Tunisia report
ing that American Flying Fortresses
and Billy Mitchell bombers had I'M
leased the mightiest assaults Of the
campaign on the Axis-held harbors
Of Bizerte, Tunis and Sousse.
Allied Air Strength Shown.
The raids exemplified the growing
strength of the Allied air forces IN
Tunisia, where British and Amer
lean troops were reported to have
beaten back another German at
tempt to turn their right flank in
tse vicinity OF Mehjez ell Bah, 81
miles southwest of Tunis.
Axis attempts to rush equipment
and supplies to North Africa met
another setback. meanwhile, with
the disclosure that British subma
rines had sunk four more enemy
supply vessels. including an armed
merchant cruiser, in the Mediter-
ranean.
Vast damage was reported DONE
in Tunis by American bombers
which subjected 1t to two terrific
gatherings over the week end.
On Saturday, American Flying
Fortresses were reported to have
set aflame an area 10 blocks long
and two blocks wide along the Tunis
water front, scoring direct hits or
docks, warehouses and a supply
ship
This attack, however, was ex.
ceeded in intensity by another de-
livered yesterday, along with raids
on Bizerte and Sousse. Roaring
fires were reported set in harbor
installations in all three ports.
Tunisian Land Front Quiet.
Comparatively little action was
reported from the Tunisian land
front. A communique from 1t.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's head
quarters yesterday said enemy eff
forts to infiltrate north and south
OF Medjez ell Bah had been stopped
and also reported activity by Allied
advance forces.
The Germans gave a different
version OF the fighting, the Berlin
radio reporting today that Axis
forces had advanced yesterday
southwest of Tebourba, which is
20 miles west of Tunis, driving
British and American units out of
two localities. Ten Allied tanks
were captured and Is destroyed,
the broadcast said.
The information that British sub
marines had sunk four more Axis
supply vessels in the Mediterranean
was contained in an Admiralty COM
munique which also reported that
torpedo hits had been scored on
an enemy convoy of two supply ships
and three destroyers within 80 miles
of Naples. Full results of the attack
were not observed, the communique
said.
The same bulletin reported that
British submarines had attacked
shipping in Tripolitanain anchor
ages, damaging two supply vessels
at Burat by gunfire and torpedoing
ammunition barges at Ras Ali.