The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-01

'hsIit that the enemy group ct
ened might be cut OF.
Douglas Boston (A-20) attack
tolanets battered troops In the rail-
8aF station at Bou Thaid, east Of
raid, and destroyed several build
AnEA Other Bostons attacked the
railroad east Of Maknassy.
American fighters kept an iimbrel-
IL over Allied attacking troops and
heavily strafed enemy rear positions
Elyine Fortresses (Boeing B.1Ts)
executed the new raid on Bizerte,
and returning pilots reported large
merchant. vessel sunk. The forts
were attacked by enemy fighters,
eight OF which were destroyed.
Martin Marauders CB-26'N, es-
corted by Lockheed Lghtnings (P-
ee,sl scattered light bombs on the
airdrorne ct Gabes, where many
fighters were destroyed aground and
SIX enemy transport planes were left
"a flames. Other bombs hit the mill
xnry camp and railroad at Gabes.
Five enemy fighters were shot
down and two Lightnings were lost
"a this attack.
Another American combat unit OF
tanks. infantry and artillery, coun-
ter-attacked in central TIinisia, at
tempting, despite heavy enemy dive
bombing attacksfi to drive the Ger
mans from strongly entrenched po-
sltions.
An Allied communique reported
the action as "a series Of minor enc
gagen1ents" and said air forces Of
both sides were active in support Of
their ground forces.
The Germans started two tank
attacks along the road from Pont
Duo Tahs toward Robaa, but were
repulsed by the British, the spokes-
man said. At least six German
tanks were destroyed, including two
Of their new Mark-vI machines
weighing So tons.
Blserte Attacked
Allied planes attacked Bizerte
again yesterday, starting several big
fires on the docks Of the vital Axis
port. The air field at Gabes, on
the Ttinisian east coast, was bombed
and . number Of enemy planes de-
stroyed on the ground, the COM
xi1unique said.
During yesterdays operations,
headquarters disclosed, 10 enemy
planes were destroyed. Five Allied
aircraft were missing.
Saturday night, Allied planes con-
Centrated their bombing on roads
supplying enemy positions. The
conrnunique gave no details.
fflf4n eNQaNa1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SaaNAaVk
I'd that q Canadian Corvette, COM
rnanded by Lieut.. Edward r. Sim
mons, RCNVR, had sunk an italian
submarine In the western Mediter-
ranean. The Corvette, the HMCA
Port Arthur. attacked the subma-
rine with depth charges and gunflre
and rescued some survivors.
Powerful Allied tank and infan-
try forces were battling the Ger
mans on the dusty Faid Plain, so
miles west Of Sfax, where Axis tanks
and infantry had thrown back
lightly held French line six miles
"A en- attempt to widen the coastal
corridor.
The Allied forces went into action
late yesterday after forced march
8 - ~ AA0uAo 4AVlAk 4bo UdSC w UAAS
west. It started to the front as
soon ~ news was flashed Of the
GerFaMn attack on the French.
Reports to French headquarters
indicated that the battle was still
70 be decided.
It was disclosed officially that the
German 10th Armored Division,
which fought In Poland, made the
break through the French line at
Sedan in 1910 and then went to
the central front in Russia, had
spear1eaded the Axis attack on the
French lines which Is near the
southern end Of the Allied front
facing the Tunisian east coast.
New German Tanks
The Germans were equipped with
new, 52-ton tanks, never used be-
fore in African campaigns. These
tanks, which the Germans seem to
be shipping to Tunisia In volume,
are equipped with the powerful new
e8-millimeter gun.
Col. Gen. Jurgen Won Arnim,
Axis commander in chief in Tunisia,
launched q heavy attack on the
French lines Saturday west Of Faid,
90 miles from the important Axis
Reinforcement base Of Sfax. The
Germans made an advance Of six to
( seven miles toward the southwest
against the French positions around
the important road junction Of Sidi
Bou Zed. The tanks and infantry
drove along the road leading west
ward from Sfax to Sbeitla, IS miles
west Of Aid.
A German force described by Al
He'd spokesman as resembling an
American combat team-tanks and
infantry, with artillery support
made the advance.
It was reported that the French
still held Sidi Bou Zed, from which
. plain stretches 40 miles to the
west, and offers good ground for
tank action but provides little cover
and permits effective aerial opera
ton.
Planes Of the American Army 18th
air force went into action on big
scale IN support Of the French and
Allied troops soon after the Ger
mans began their push and attack
ed ferociously In an attempt to dis
T1pt enemy movements.
P-4O Warhawks attacked tank and
truck concentrations, hitting at least
six trucks. The Warhawks and APO
Havoc bombers then attacked Ger
man tanks in Faid Pass and pilots
reported that IL enemy tanks were
left burning. They inflicted heavy
casualties on enemy troops with
cannon and machine guns and left
SIX German infantry trucks ablaze.
10 Vehicles Hit
IN another sweep the American
planes attacked a big concentration
of vehicles but smoke and dust pre-
vented observation Of results, and
fn q fourth sweep on men. tanks
and trucks they hit 10 vehicles. The