The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-04-29
German Mortar Fire
Used Against Allies
tcontinued from Pare y

concentrate IRE from dozens Of these
big guns until the enemy position
was softened. Then, n necessary
bombers are summoned 10 "touch
up" the German defenses before the
infantry went In behind another ar
tillery barrage.
The Americans fighting IN the
razor-backed Jefsna Hill area were
working their way slowly tuwerd
flatter ground where more DIVERSE
fed attack will be possible, but they
still face strong enemy positions
along the road toward Mateur.
"a German coEnmunique broeds
cast BY radio Berlin said that the
Germans beat back an enemy tank
formation whieh penetrated their
positions northeast Of MedjeS ID
Bab.)
Allied homhers and ilgi1ter.bonb-
ers stepped up their attacks on enc
envy shipping II the slclllan straits
and the Gulf Of Ttlnls, sinking Or
damaging six vessels engaged In
ferrying supplies and relnforcements
TO the shrinking Axis bridgeheed,
Other planes bombed and strafed
enemy positions and transport,
starting fires and wTeClEing vehicles.
Altogether, 20 enemy planes were
shot down yesterday and the pre-
vious night, while Allied losses to-
tailed only two aircraft.
(American heavy bombers from
the middle-eastern command ut.
tackled the harbor ct Messlna, Sicily,
and the docks ct Naples In daylight
yesterday, o Cairo communique an.
uounced. Hits were scored on the
ferry terminus installations and fires
started In railway yards at Messina.
Four enemy fighters were destroyed
and one American bomber was lost.)
The communicate gave no details
Of the American advance In north.
ern Tunisia, other than that II car.
rled into some important ground"
Front dispatches said the Americans
were nearing the end Of the stub.
bornly- hills below Mateur and
approaching natter ground where
more diversified types Of attacks Will
be possible.
Another American column to the
northwest has reached o point only
six miles from Lake 0araet Achket
southwest Of Bizerte after captur.
ing Djebel Dardyse.
French forces IN the coastal sec.
tor at last reports were four miles
from Lake Garaet Achket and 20
to ~ miles from Blzerte.
Other French troops hammerins
at the southwestern corner Of the
Axis bridgehead were nearing the
edge Of the Tunis plain. Further
local gains were registered yesterday
yesterday after Counters native
troops had cut across the Point
Du Fahs-E nfidaviile road southeast
Of MT. zaghouan on q wide front
To the east. the British Eighth
Army was engaged In very active"
patrolling IN the Enfidavilie area %
miles south Of Tunls, the commuri-
que said. This might presage .
concentrated new thrust northward.
Two Ships KHft
Bps Mitchell bombers, with an
escort Of 9.30 Lockheed Lightning
fighters, attacked shipping IN the
sicilian NarTows, scoring direct hits
On two ships and setting one afire
Seven Of . formation Of flghteEs
which attempted to prevent the ct.
tack were shot down.
SpItflre-escorted Kittyhawk fight.
er-bombeTs blew up one enemy shir
IN the Gulf Of Tunis and less three
others afire. Five interceptlng air
craft were destroyed.
Another ave enemy planes were
shot down By Allied fighters on pa
troll over forward battle areas.
One enemy aircraft was shot down
On Tuesday night.