The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-04-15

Bou Arada, MedJcE el BRb, Sidi NSlr and thence east of SedienRne and Cap Serrat to the Miditer- ranean. All available information Still indicated Rommel planned to fight to the end in this strongly fortified sector, attempting to evac. uate only small number of special ists and other units,
 While ground forces drew up battle lines for the final onslaught to drive German Marshal Erwin Rommels armies into the sea, Allied bolnhers ralded the enemy's air fields, both in tho dwlndling Axis TunlSlan bridgehead and In Sar- dinia and wrecked transport col- uTnnS,
 The bomberS ran into strong fighter opposition over the Axis air fields, but destroyed l9 of them and returned without loss to their bases, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's communiQue said, Two other enemy planes were shot down elsewhere, while Allied loses in all operations totaled eight aircraft.
 The communiQue described the First Army's newly-won position only aS "an important feature" north of MedjeS el Bah, but did not say which of twin Allied columns thruStlng northeastward captured 1t.
 One column was driying north eastward from Medje1 eT Bab along tho main road to Tunis. while the second was pushing along the rail- road from Beja, 24 miles to the northwest, toward Mateur, l8 miles south of Bizerte. The second column at last reports was in the vicinity of Sidi Nsir station, 20 miles north- east of Beja and 35 miles southwest of Bizerte.
 French forces to the southwest contin,ed to drive northward through the hills west of the En- fidaville line, capturing 400 more prisoners to increase their personal bag to more than HOO. A special French announcement last night re- ported the capture of Djebel Man. sour, a 200-foot hill l2 miles south west of Pont Du Fans dominating the southwest approaches to tho town.
 5oo Enemy Killed
 The French counted 500 enemy dead at Dje3el Ousselat, one of the key mountains stretching south- ward from Pont Du Fans. Included in their booty were i8 guns and 60 heavy machine-guns.
 The communique said there was nothing to report from the British Eighth Army. which now was gath efing strength l,eiow the eneniy's Enfidaville line 50 miles south of Tunis before pushing northward again.
 Strong forces of light and medium bombers opened the latest series of attacks on enemy air fields with heavy raids Tuesday night on the Tunisitsi landing grounds, where a number of fires were left burning.
 Taking ouer in daylight, flying fortresses bombed the Elmas and Monserrato airfields in Sardinia and Ill AOulIld daEukOtIlc III AutlASAh, oSoA~ ing direct hits on hangars and other buildings and dropping bombS among parked aircraft. It was over these fields that the i9 intercept ing fighters were shot down.
 The text of the communique:
 "Our troops yesterday continued their advance on most sectors of the Tunisian front.
 French troops continued their successful advance in the range of hills on the west of the Enfidaville line and yesterday captured over 400 prisoners.
 "The First Army continued their attacks north Of Medjez Fl Bab and have captured an important feature over difficult country in the face of strong opposition. capturing over 200 prisoners.
 SSince the start of the attack on the Mareth position, our forces have now captured over 30.00o prisoners.
 Prom the Eighth Army front. where our troops are in contact with the enemy deeenses on the Enfidaville line, there is nothing to report.
 During the night of April l3-Il. strong forces of light and medium bombers of the tactical air force ate tackled enemy air fields in Tunisia, where Q number of fires were Left