The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-04-24
Next Few Hours May De-
ternline Length of Ger.
mans Stand
VIOLENT FIGHTING
in COFFIN CORNER
Newly-WOn Allied Posi-
tons East of Medjez FL
Bah Retained
BY VIRGIL PINKLEY
United Press Staff Corresponds

NOASCN AESoS OS~A OVHaSspsSAAesSAAV
Allied Headquarters, North
Africa, April "a. - (UP) -
The massed weight of the
British First and Eighth
Armies and the American
Second Corps has rolled the
Axis back as much as seven
miles in a general offensive
supported by another record
breaking aerial onslaught
along a 1lO-mile front in north
eastern Tunisia.
The offensive is now rolling, to-
days communique from headquart-
ers of General Dwight D. Eisen-
hover disclosed, and United States
troops have gained six miles ON the
strategic road to Mateur on the
norternmost front after desperate
fighting in which German counter
attacks were repulsed.
The Americans were about IS
miles west of Mateur and perhaps
80 miles southwest of Bizerte.
Hill Captured
On other fronts, the British First
Army captured most of important
bongstop Hill, north Of Medjsz-Ei~
Bah. and advanced about seven
miles on the Bou Arada front south
of Medjez, capturing the town u
Goubellat and knocking out 16 Ger
man tanks in a powerful armored
thrust that is still driving eastward
north Of Eebkret- El-Kourzia.
The First Army was less than 30
miles west Of Tunis. with its north
ern spearhead fighting to clear the
road to the important highway
junction of Tebourba.
On the southwestern front, the
French were carrying out agrees
siye patrols between the First Army
and the British Eighth Army. which
was hammering at desperate Axis
resistance about half way along tfe
15-mile road from Enfidaville to BOu
Fiche, on the east coast of Tunisia.
Meanwhile. Allied air forces-es-
pecially American bombers-carFied
out a record number OF 1900 sorties
on Friday. probably dumping more
high explosives on the enemy posi-
tons than on any previous day.
The temperance of the American
End Corps in the battle for tho
northeast Tunisian coffin corner was
announced by headquarters OF Gen.
Sir Harold Alexander after a period
of greatest secrecy regarding its
movements.
The secrecy covered a swift move-
ment Of thousands Of men and tanks
and other vehicles from the scuth-
ern front-Where the forces under
Lieut.. Gen. George s. Patton. Jr,s
joined with the Eighth Army-to the
extreme northern sector.
Daylight Raid
The Americans, supported b.
heavy y. s. Air Force bofnbardment,
attacked in the first light Of day on
Friday, striking both north and
south of the road from SedJenanw
toward Mateur and capturing three
dominating hills. The Germans
quickly counter-attacked but were
driven on several times.
Although only part Of the Amer
lean End corps was In action. TIE Az
lied Forces all along the Tunisian
line we're hitting the enemy with
everything they could throw into
battle and the roads leading to the
front were jammed with reinforce-
mentg.
The aerial attack was especially
heavy In support of the Americans
on the north and the French forces
the Corps France DAfrique--
which pushed eastward along tho
north coast on the American left
flank.
The Liiftwaffe virtually was AFfv-
en- from the air on Friday and fly
ing fortresges extended the Allies
attacks as far as enemy supply bases
(RaasaffeasaaA m nara a.