The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-04-26

active, with fighting In progress on
almost every sector from the North
Coast to Bou Arada, while Allied
airplanes supported the onslaught.
The Germans, however, had great
er number Of fighters In the air on
Sunday and destroyed IL Allied
planes. Seven Axis planes were shot
down.
In the Hills north Of Medjez-El.
Bah, the British First Army cleaned
out a stubborn enemy garrison In
the village heidous, six miles north
Of Medjez. The garrison fought on
after the Allied advance had swept
past toward Tebourba junction.
(Radio Algiers said that all enemy
opposition had been cleared from
Longstop Hill, dominating the road
to Tebourba.)
Four miles northeast Of Heidous,
British infantry took the important
hill called Djebel Tanngouche, q L.
500-foot pea;' overlooking the road to
Tebourba, IN which spokesman
called "a magnificent effort" He
added, however, that the going was
very hard" and that the enemy
still was fighting on the eastern
edge of Longstop hill, which also
commands the Tebourga road.
North of the first army, the
American End corps infantry after a
four-mile advance held q line start
ing three miles east Of Sidi N'Sir
and running to a point four miles
south-southwest Of the village. The
American advance was continuing
and dispatch from G. r. Cunning
ham, United Press correspondent
with the End corps, said that the
Germans were falling back north
eastward on the road from Beja
| to Mateur, which lies only 20 miles
south of Bizerte.
There Is no indication where the
enemy will stand but the Americans
are advancing cautiously. alert
against enemy traps" Cunningham's
dispatch said
American infantry forming the
northern prong of the drive cap
tured more high ground about nine
miles northeast of Sedjenane around
Djebel Neshott FL Maza and thee
miles east of Djebel Ainchouna,
total gain three of about three miles.
American and British bombers, de-
>cite unfavorable weather. con-
centrated against enemy hill posi-
tons, tank and gun concentrations
with good results. A spokesman
said the bombardment was the
nearest thing we can imagine to a
volcano" BoStons and Mitchells
bombed enemy positions northwest
of Enfidaville al day Sunday and
many sweeps elsewhere.
An Raj pilot said his formation
saw enemy fighter formations for
the first time in days but only one
plane came In to attack. 1t was
shot down.
On the ground, the British tfnops
were often usirs 4O-nich knives ashiE
bayonets to hand-to-hand conflict
but tanks were clashing in the most
important battle.
TAKE 5-YANKS ADVANCING.
"The battle east of Medjez contin-
ues In our favor, and severe tank
casualties have been inflicted on the
enemy" the communicate said.
80 Enemy Prisoners
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgom-
ery's Eighth Army seized Djebel
Terhouna, a strong enemy locality
northwest of Enfidaville, in a night
attack Friday that Melted about SO
prisoners.
The Germans and Italians were
fighting desperately but so far fu-
lively to halt the Allied pincers
drive to push them into the sea as
a prelude to an invasion Of Europe
itself
Gen. Dwight d. Eisenhower noted
In his communique today:
Fighting continued yesterday
over the whole Tunisian front with
the enemy strongly contesting every
inch Of ground"
Field dispatches said that at
times fighting ragged at such close
quarters that the opposing troops
wrestled one another with no holds
barred with q flashing knife often
deciding the winner.
There was no fresh news from
The sector held by the French troops
southwest Of Tunis since last nights
communique announcing the cap
ture Of Djebel Mansour, south of
Bou Arada. and the taking Of 100