Evening star., 1943-04-09
Mezzouna Also
Yielded in Big
Withdrawal
Allies Take $1,000
Prisoners in Three
Doys Of Fighting
By the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA, April 9.-Axis
forces are abandoning Mahares,
only % miles south of the vital
harbor of Sfax, and the railway
town of MeZZouna in a continu-
ing withdrawal under Allied
blows on broad front between
the Central Tunisian mountains
and the sea, it was disclosed to-
day.
Armored vanguards of the British
9th Army pursued the troops of
Marshal Edwin Rommels Afrika
korps, who were fleeing north from
Mahares and northeast from Mez-
zouna, So miles from Sfax, under
the hamnering of the western desert
air force.
The flight of Rommels forces from
MahareS marked a 70-mile retreat
from the Mareth Line in II days and
30-mlle withdrawal from Wadi Ell
Akarlt since Tuesday morning
United States troops captured the
Djebel Mazaila, a height in the
mountain range north of Maknassy.
A communique announced that
the 9th Army had taken $500 pris-
| oners since the initial attack on
Rommels Wadi Ell Akarit positions
and military quarters said 1900
more were captured by the United
States I'd Army Corps in the mop
up of the Ell Guetar sector.
The French also rounded up some
/ prisoners and announced tonight
that "a cannon of 47 and IT milli-
meters were among supplies taken
from the enemy in the southern Sec
tor.
In three days the Allies have cap
tured nearly 10000 Axis troops.
Alexander Offers Praise.
The achievements of the Ameri-
can corps, headed by 1t. Gen.
George S. Patton, jf., in engaging
the bulk of the Axis armor earlier
this week on the 9th Army's left
flank were highly praised at press
conference by Gen. Sir Harold L.
Alexander, Allied deputy commander
in chief.
"a TranSOcean dispatch broad
cast by the Berlin radio and re-
corded by the Associated Press
said the great superiority of the
enemy in men and materiel is
showing its effect" Elabora ting
high command communique
which said Axis troops had frus-
trated Allied encirclement at
tempts in bitter fighting, the dis
| patch reported that the detach-
ing movement toward the north
to all appearances is being
continued"
CA British radio broadcast re-
corded by CHS said American
forces thrusting along the road
I from Maknassy to the coast (by
way of Mezzouna) "are now re-
ported to be little more than 20
miles from Gen. Sir Bernard L,
Montgomery's spearhead.D
Military quarters announced that
Allied observers saw Axis troops
heading out of Mahares yesterday.
Both Mahares and Mezzouna arc
way stations on the Gafsa-Sfax
railway. Mahares lies so miles
northeast of Gabes.
13O Vehicles Destroyed.
While American and British aerial
squadrons maintained assaults on
retiring Axis columns, 1t was an
nounced that 100 enemy vehicles
had been destroyed and 300 damaged
in the last two days.
Pressed hard by the 9th Army.
Rommel was growing short of motor
transports to extricate his rear
guards.
In the Medjez-E El-Bab sector of
Northern Tunisia the British main
tanned the offensive launched We'd
nesday on a 12-mile front. Long
range guns knocked out two enemy
tanks there.
Military quarters said one enemy
tank concentration in that area was
observed yesterday under violent
attack by German -bombers
which obviously had mistaken their
target.
More than 400 prisoners have been
taken in the Medjez-E El-Bab fighting
since Wednesday. communioue
said. Without naming the points,
1t reported that the British had
(See AFRICA. Page A-6)