The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-05-03

lily mined although there did not APP
pear to be any strong enemy force
In the village.
Douglas Boston A-20 attack bomb
ers and fighter-bombers raked en-
envy tanks and troop carriers, as
well as troop positions, with bombs
and bullets and started fires in the
target areas. Three enemy planes
were shot down and two Allied air
craft were lost.
At sea, three fast British torpedo
boats were credited in a field dis
patch with sinking a 3,000-ton mer-
chant ship and German R-boat
and damaging two italian mine
sweepers and shore installations in
60-mile sweep up the Tunisian
coast. The action occurred Wednes-
day, but was revealed only yester-
day.
Apart from the Axis attacks, the
only activity reported from the Tu-
nissan land front was Allied patrol
action.
Gan Italian communique broad
cast by the Rome radio reported
only artillery and reconnaissance
activity. Italian bombers attacked
concentrations of motor vehicles, 1t
added)
CA La Linea dispatch relayed by
the Vichy radio said that rs Allied
cargo ships and a score Of landing
barges now we're anchored at Gil
braltar)
The lull settled over the Tunisian
front Saturday following some of
the fiercest fighting Of the war,
touched off by an Allied attempt to
blast the enemy from gun-studded
hills barring the way to the TuniS
plain from both west and south.
American troops pushing toward
Mateur in a two-pronged attack at
one point were only 10 miles from
the important junction, which lies
20 miles southwest of Bizerte and 33
miles northwest of Tunis. Farther
north, French forces driving along
the Mediterranean coast reached the
Mersa Douiba area, only 20 miles
west of Bizerte.
The British First Army, which alb
sorbed the brunt Of the Axis coun-
ter-attacks last week, still was hold
ing positions 20 miles west of Tunis,
while farther south both British and
French troops were within striking
distance of Pont du Fahs, SO miles
southwest of Tunis.
The British Eighth Army now was
S IL miles north and 10 miles
northeast of Enfidaville on the Gulf
of Hammamet, As miles below T'unis.
Praise of the fighting advances of
the Americans in northern Tunisia
came both from their own COM
manding general and from Gen. Sir
Harold r. L. G. Alexander's 18th
Army group headquarters.
The unnamed American COM
manding general congratulated his
men on killing or capturing hum
dreds of Axis troops in the hardest
kind of fighting without rest for
eight days and said they now were
attacking the only enemy positions
before "our final detectives"
You have met the enemy in his
chosen positions and despite innu-
merable obstacles, you have driven
him back" the general said in an
order of the day.
Alexander's headquarters empha-
sized the difficult terrain over which
the Americans advanced and said
that at times supplies were dropped
from planes because trucks could not
penetrate the hills. Mules also were
pressed into service.
The text of the conmunique:
There was lull on the Tunisian
front yesterday. Our patrols were
active and two local attacks made by
the enemy were repulsed. Some pris-
onerS were taken.
"Air:
Yesterday APO bombers and
fighter bombers of the tactical air
force carried out attacks on enemy
transport and positions. Fires were
started in the target areas and
bombs were seen to burst among
concentrations OF enemy tanks and
vehicles.
Fighters maintained patrols over
the forward areas.
During the course of these oper-
atoms, two enemy aircraft were de-
stroyed. A Beaufighter of the Coastal
air force on patrol shot down one
bomber.
From all these operations, two of
our aircraft are missing"