The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-11


Lacking food and ammunition, the
remnants appeared able TO hold out
only a few days at the most. There
was absolutely no hope OF escape for
the units which were fighting hard
est on the south front.
The British break through TO
Hammsmet came Monday after a
hard battle below Hammam LII at
the north base OF the peninsula. The
British Nth Armored Division and
Infantry occupied Sollman at 2 p.
M, Selling the network OF penin-
sula roads.
About rs enemy tanks were de-
stroyed in this fighting which lasted
many hours.
The armored tide then poured
down the road to Grombalia and
another group neared Hammamet at
$3.50 p. m. The advance continued
Tuesday morning. completely cut
ting Off the peninsula. This vir-
tually ended organized resistance by
the second-rate troops on the pen
insula but fierce fighting continued
in the 700-square-mile trap TO the
west and south Of Hammamet.
This trap Is a rough circle. The
east side rests on about Is miles OF
coast line between Hammamet and
the Enfldayille hills. The south side
Is the rough Enf1daville mountain
line extending westward about 20
miles inland. The west side swings
north near zaghouan, where the
French have been attacking, and
thence turns eastward 10 the coast
road south OF Hammam Lif.
Mountain Protection
inside this trap and protected by
high mountains are remnants OF
the Nazi Goth Light Division, the
10th and 21st Panzer Divisions and
Infantry Of the 18th Panzer Divi-
sion as we'll as the 164th Infantry
Division and some italian troops.
The fight put up by these hope
lessly trapped troops was III great
contrast TO the attitude OF Axis
troops on Cap Bon peninsula where
all hopes of an evacuation by sea
we're smashed when the Allied armor
won control Of the roads running
along both west and east sides OF
the peninsula.
There Is little resistance In the
Cap Bon peninsula" the spokesman
said. 'The Germans Just lost their
nerve and are inclined TO surrender
without any indications OF a last
ditch fight. They have been pound
cd from the afr for AZ hours and
large fires light the sky over the
peninsula at night.
Already upwards OF $4,000 Axis
prisoners have been taken In the
final stages OF the campaign
From Soliman on the north side
OF the peninsula, 1t Is about 80 miles
to the Cap Bon tip.
Peninsula Blockaded
The communique said that the
coast OF the peninsula as closely
watched and blockaded and the
work continues Of hopping UP small
parties OF the enemy striving te
escape by sea"
Allied light naval forces sank
three small ships In the Gulf OF
Tunis and took prisoners, including
one German general officer. II
was disclosed that on Sunday night
light naval forces working close
to shore hao sunk two small vesseli
off Cap Bon and took prisoners. La
ter they torpedoed and shelled q
small enemy vessel Off Kelibia.
The tactical air force and fighter
bomberS Of the strategic force con-
tinued attacks on troops, motor
transport and enemy positions on
the peninsula throughout the day
Many Axis vehicles were destroyed.
American flying fortresses carrict
out heavy attacks Oh Milo and Be
Rizzo airfields In Sicily yesterday
Fires were started and Bombs Wert
seen to burst among q large number
OF aircraft on the ground British
WellingtonS bombed the docks aflt
other targets at Palermo on the
north shore Of Sicily Sunday night
following up the big American day
light raid on Palermo Sunday noon.
Light and medium bombers at
tackled Pantelleria Island between
Tunisia and Sicily for the third con
secutive day. They bombed the al
field, docks and shipping. Fire
were started and several vessel
we're hit.
-Four enemy planes were destroyed
yesterday and two the previous
night. Five Allied planes were los
In all operations.
IAN italian communique said Bri
fish troops on the southern front
we're held and that the Axis forceI
counter attacked despite the threa
from behind them.)
A delayed dispatch from United
Press Correspondent Ned Russell a
the front told OF the surprise flank
Ing movement OF the British Eight
Army which helped the First ARM
to make the break through west o
Tunis last week.
Russell said that crack Indiar
mountain fighters Of the Eight
Army, who specia1izes in hand Il
hand combat with their long curyeC