The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-04-05

Continued from Page u
ternoon In operations against Q
chain Of enemy positions dominat.
ing the road from the north, where
the Germans have many 89-milli-
meter guns and mortars manned by
their best troops.
The enemy Is making every effort
In this sector TO prevent Patton's
forces from making q junction with
the British Eighth Army under Gen
Sir Bernard l.. Montgomery, which
Is jabbing at the German rear guard
about 20 miles north Of Gabes.
German broadcasts said the Tlm-
isian front was calm Sunday except
for local reconnaissance and shock
troop activity. They added that
German planes heavily attacked AL
lied columns, artillery and concen-
trations and damaged a large mer-
chant ship
The Germans made a counter-at-
tack against Patton's forces but
were repulsed with severe losses. in
GLIDING prisoners. American posi-
tons were not weakened.
The British engaged In artillery
duels with the enemy on several sec
tors, especially northwest Of Medjez
FL Bah, and mauled German trans
port columns. There was no confir-
nation here of Axis reports that the
British were starting a big offensive
In the Medjez Fl Bah sector or Of
similar reports that the Americans
had started a heavy attack near
Maknassy, but the United Safes &C.
ton east of FL Guettar was on a
considerable scale.
The Americans we're battling some
of German Marshal Erwin Rom
mel's finest veteran troops, heavily
supported by tanks, artillery. NOR
tars and machine guns as well as
the ever-present mine-fields. Deeply
entrenched ON the Bir Mrabott Pass,
the Germans are holding the last
high ground west of the coastal
plain.
CThe NBC correspondent at Allied
headquarters said American troops
captured "a couple of hills east Of
FL Guettar)
At one point, the Americans were
six miles beyond the junction of
the main Gafsa- Gabes road and a
road shooting of southwark to Keb-
III.
American-manned Spitfire planes
on Saturday shot down IA German
dive-bombers in the biggest air bat
tie yet staged over the American
front lines in Bir Mrabott Pass.
In northern Tunisia. the British
First Army and supporting French
forces pummeled enemy troop and
transport concentrations and sent
out reconnaissance patrols after
clearing the Germans from Cap
Serrat, 80 miles due west Of Bizerte,
main Axis base In Tunisia.
Southwest of Pichon. % miles
west Of Kairouan, French artillery
repulsed two local enemy tank at
tacks.
Only artillery and patrol activity
were reported from the Gabes Gap
area, where the British Eighth
Army Is preparing a frontal attack
on German troops entrenched along
the northern rim of the deep. water
filed Wadi Akarit, which runs
from the Chott e. Fedjadj (salt
lake, on the west to the Gulf of
Gabes in the east.
The text of the communique:
"In the FL Guettar section yes
terday, American forces continued
their attack on the enemy against
strong opposition. An enemy coun-
ter-attack in this sector was re-
pulsed. some prisoners being taken.
Further north on the First Army
front, our patrols we're again active
and there was some artillery activ-
ity on both sides. As a result of
these exchanges, concentrations of
enemy motor transport and infantry
were severely handled.
From the remainder of the TIlni-
sian front, there Is nothing to re-
port.
Air: - Extensive air operations
were carried out yesterday. Enemy
airflelds were bombed by medium
and light hombers and fighter
bombers. Attacks were also made on
concentrations Of enemy vehicles.
Fighters carried ont many often-
sive sweeps and patrols In the for
ward areas.
"a strong force OF heavy bombers
attacked the harbor and an air field
at Naples. Several ships were hit as
well as other targets In the dock
area. Many enemy aircraft on the
ground were destroyed.
"B.25s (Mitchells) made attacks
on q convoy In the 6icilian Straits
and ON small vessels on the south
west coast Of Sardinia. setting two
ships on fire and scoring direct hits
on several others.
During the course OF the days
operations, eleven enemy aircraft
were destroyed. Five Of our aircraft
are missing from all these opera
TONS"
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