Evening star., 1943-04-01
Africa
Continued From First Page.

was probable that "the British lst
Army and the American Army in
their turn will soon assume tasks of
no less Importance than those OF the
9th Army"
The Russian Army newspaper
Red Star said Rommel was in Sc
rious danger, adding that "our
Allies possess sufficient power and
battle means to squeeze the ring of
their troops around the Italian and
German units and exterminate
them"
Axis Loses 81 Aircraft.
1t was officially announced that
the Axis lost 81 aircraft in combat
yesterday with the Allied North
African air forces, while II Allied
planes failed to return.
Raj light bombers attacked motor
transport and roads in the Mez-
zouna-Sfax area. Wellingtons of
the western desert air force shot
up Rommels traffic south of Bizerte,
starting so fires and many explo-
sions on stretch of l mile.
Bostons and Baltimores escorted
by Allied fighters made a daylight
assault on the Axis landing grounds
at Sfax. now less than 10 miles
airline from the vanguards of the
9th Army. Five large fires were set
there and five aircraft were de-
stroyed on the ground.
Spitfires sweeping a valley Is
miles southeast of Ell Guetar burned
part of 20-truck convoy loaded
with troops. Spitfires and Aira-
cobras destroyed many trucks and
armored cars and five troop car
riers in other sweeps.
Vehicles Are Set Afire.
The Warhawks, some loaded with
bombs and others rigged for fighter
escorts, attacked the road between
Hadifa and 81 Rouda in Ell Guetaria
Pass and set from 20 to 80 vehicles
af1re Returning to their base the
Warhawks intercepted 10 Stukas on
dive bombing foray against Amer
ican ground troops.
Four OF the Stukas were destroyed
and others were damaged Seeking
to save the dive bombers, Messer-
schmitts joined the fight. Six of
them were shot down. Only one
Warhawk failed to return.
A broadcast by the Nazi-con-
trolled Paris radio which was re-
corded in London said American
troops had made new advance to-
ward Kairouan. Maslem holy city IS
miles south of Tunis, while Axis
forces attacked in the region of
Pichon, about "a miles west of Kau-
rouan. Presumably the United
States drive was continuation Of
the weekend push from the south
west which overran Foundouk.
A dispatch from Cairo said Allied
medium bombers dumped more than
100 tons of bombs on an Axis air
drome on the Sfax-El Maou road
Tuesday night. Naval aircraft, pre-
sumably operating from q carrier,
co-operated in the attack.
Bombs fell among dispersed air.
craft and buildings on the airfield,
it was announced.
The Morocco radio said today the
Germans did not have time to de-
stroy harbor installations at Gabes
and the port would be used immedi-
ately to the fullest extent possible
by the British Navy Rommel, the
broadcast said, had motor transport
for only 10000 Of the force of at
least 10000 used in the Mareth Line.
Camel Corps Tightens Grip.
An almost unnoticed minor
drama of the Tunisian campaign
was drawing to close on the south
F, side of the great Chott Djerid salt
marsh, where French camel corps
was reported tightening its grip
around Kebili. Any Axis force In
this area already is in a hopeless
situation because the British con-
troll the bottleneck between the
eastern end of the marsh land and
the seattle only escape route.
Axis radios continued to make
much of naval activity around Gil
braltar. The vichy radio reported
that strong conveys had sailed into
the Mediterranean, in the last few
days with escorts of small aircraft
carriers and other warships.
A communique from Fighting
French headquarters in Africa,
broadcast by the Brazzaville radio
and recorded by the Federal Com
munications Commission, said Fight
ing French forces and units from
French Somaliland took part in the
9Th Army attack against rear po-
sitions Of the Maretn Line.
The communique said the French
forces, acting as an advance