The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-23
Berlin Reports Violent Fighting Near Gulf of
 Hammamet FRENCH TROOPS GIVE
 GOOD AID TO ALLIES American Planes Raid Tunis Airdrome; Axis
 to Fight to Death
BY EDWARD W. BEATTIE United Press Staff COrrespondentl

bx EUWAhD w, bEhATAE United Press Staff COrrespOndentl
 London, Nov. 23.-(UP)- Radio Morocco reported to- day that Allied forces had opened a general attack on Axis positions in the Tunis- Bizerte area of Tunisia and the first Axis prisoners had arrived in the Allied lines. Citing as authority an Allied headquarters communique, the French controlled Radio Mor- occo said the Allies had attacked entrenched enemy forces in the area, driving against the entire position of the German and Italian army.
 The later Radio Morocco broad- cast said that the Allied troops cor- tinued their attack and were ads vancing rapidly.
 Fight for Harbor
 Radio Berlin, quoting "Angelo- American sources" said violent fighting was in progress for e harbor 30 miles from Tunis. Pre- sumably the harbor was that oG Hammamet, on the gulf of that name on the northeast coast.
 A French communique reported that French troops supported by American and British forces had de- feated the Germans heavily in savage fight in the Falfsa region of southern Tunisia, 70 miles inland from the east coast.
 German and Italian forces, drive ing in from the dulf of Gabes, fli- tered into the area of dafsa, c key town on the railroad running from Algeria to Mahares on the gulf, the French communique said.
 French, American and British troops met them. The Axis forces were halted, the communique said, and then the Allies launched c counter attack.
 Germans Thrown Out
 The Germans were thrown out of the Gafsa area, the communique said, and Q number of prisoners were taken.
 Radio Morocco broadcast the communique, the fourth French army communique of the Tunisian campaign, few hours after an Allied headquarters communique is- sued here announced that e British advance unit had inflicted heavy damage on 6 German armored col- umn Saturday and the French had thrown back two savage German attacks in another sector.
 The communique revealed that United States Army Flying Fort resses had been thrown into action and that in raid in force on Tunis airdrome Saturday they scored bomb hits on hangars and ware- houses. destroyed at least five grounded enemy planes and dam- aged more and, with their escorts of new crack Lockheed Lightning P-3s fighters. had shot down four challenging enemy planes.
 Act as Combat Patrols
 Aside from aiding the American and British forces in the first llne,< Z the Allied communique note<. French regulars are operating far in the German rear in combat patrols.
 No doubt remained that Adolf Hitler had ordered the Axis forces to put Up q fight to the death to hold the northeast corner of Tuni- sia into which they were being pinned, and 1t was indicated that at any time the German Italian forces in Libya might make a stand in hope Of stopping the great drive of the British Eighth Army.
 Axis broadcasts claimed that strong endorsements were arriving from Sicily and Italy to bolster the German position in Tunisia and said air force reinforcement had reached the retreating Axis forces in Lbya.
 Germany claimed airplane raids on the Allied bases of Bone and Ale giers in Algeria. The Germans al. legged that 10 Flying F'ortresses were
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