Evening star., 1943-05-06
Africa
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two ships and severely damaged
seven more.
Flying FortreSseS sank an ammu-
milton ship in the straits and dam
aged another in La Goulette Harbor
during raid which also damaged
several small craft, blasted bar
racks and oil storage and unload
ing depots and started many fires.
Allied fighter planes carried out
1900 sorties-individual flights
yesterday in their biggest days ef-
fort In the battle of Tunisia.
IL Axis Planes Downed.
IN all ii Axis aircraft were shot
down Yesterday. Four Allied planes
failed to return.
In what appeared to be desperate
fight to organize defenses on the
roads to Bizerte, along which both
American and French forces have
been pressing to distances as close
as 10 miles, Axis troops counter
attacked repeatedly yesterday in the
area of Djebel Cheniti, north of
Lake Achkel.
All we're repulsed and the Amer
leans took more than 300 prisoners,
most of whom were Italians.
South of the lake, Axis troops left
behind on the 1,667-foot summit of
Djebel Achkel, which lies between
the Sidi Salem and the Ferryville
roads 7 miles southwest of Ferry
vile, attempted to Withdrew when
they saw the Americans and French
advancing on both sides of them.
I'd Corps Forces Nazis to Fight.
The United States I'd Corps, how
ever, forced them to stand and fight.
The Americans gained a consider
able portion of the hill, mopping up
the enemy as they advanced
British 1st Army troops of 1t. Gen.
K. A. N. Anderson, following close
behind an earth-rocking aerial
bombardment and artillery barrage,
rushed the blood-drenched Djebel
Bou Aoukaz at pm. yesterday to
win that height dominating the
Medjerda River Valley and the road
to Tebourba. Thirty prisoners were
taken.
The action advanced a pincer
movement against Tebourba from
the southwest. American troops al
ready had occupied Eddekhila,
miles west of that road junction
which is itself 18 miles west of Tunis
A local advance was reported
made also by Gen. Sir Bernard L.
Montgomery's British 9th Army on
the southern front, which stretches
through the mountains westward
from the coastal marshes of the
Gulf of Hammamet above Enfida-
vile.
Patrols Penetrate Deeply.
Patrols penetrated deeply be-
hind the enemy positions" the
communique said THE country has
been heavily mined"
The communique did not elab-
crate, but the juxtaposition of
these sentences suggested that
Axis forces were planting explo-
sives in preparation for another
WlpllQI wal. o11ly Vic lOddS
needed for retreat are left open
in such cases and efforts are
made to mine these also as the
rear guard falls back)
AS result of weeks sustained
bombing of enemy airfields in Tu-
nisia it is unlikely that the Axis
is using any of the fields for bomb
nnyronatnnf cold And
even most of the enemy fighters
are now based on Sicily.
AS French and American troops
pressed from the south and west
toward Ferryville and Bizerte, the
Allied Air Forces announced that
tremendous damage had been done
to both targets by repeated aeria
attacks which "all but immobilized
Ferryville."
The attacks against Bizerte, i'm
portant Axis supply post and nava
base, were concentrated on the ex-
tensive quays and unloading facili.
ties of the Lake Bizerte channel.
Ferryville Repeatedly Raided.
Ferryville, the satellite port
miles away on the southwestern
edge of Lake Bizerte, has been re.
peatedly raided by concentrated
formations, the report said. It il
important because of its naval dock
yard, complete with repair, refuel
ing, coaling and storage facilities
Whole acres have been razed apt
havoc was wrought among dry
docks, workshops, barracks, ware
houses and fuel installations. Th'
force of the bomb explosions tor,
off roofs in areas which escaped
direct hits.
The report said that on one occa
sion the weight of bombs dropped
on Ferryville was so great tina
nearly 100 acres of docks and in
stallations were devastated. Th'
port was put out Of commission
for some time.
On the northwest corner of LAX
Bizerte is Sidi Ahmed airdrome, I
miles from the town, which ais,
has been attacked repeatedly b!
Allied bombers and fighters.
Maj. Gen. James H. Doolittle's pow.
against the Axis with full force yes.
terday after nearly a week Of com
parative quiet forced by bae
weather.
A resume of strategic air force &C.
tivity:
Flying Fortresses, Marauders ans
Mitchells, all piloted by Americans
1ashed out at all kinds of Axis ship
ping, while others blasted the har
borS of La Goulette and Tunis.