Evening star., 1943-02-04
.14Axis Supply
Ships Sunk in
Foes African Lines
Tested for Soft Spots
As Prelude to Drive
BY the Associated Press,

alT DlOWS paving the way for
heavy land assault in North Al
rica, the Allies announced today
the destruction of 14-perhaps
16-Axis supply ships in the
narrow id-Mediterranean ap-
proaches to Tunisia, where the
German-Italian defense line was
tested anew for weak spots.
British forces. captured q height
known as Hill 648 in a renewal of
fighting 6 miles southeast Of Bou
Arada in the Jebel Mansour area,
midway between Medjez Ell Bah and
Robaa, an Allied communique said
It described the gain. however, as
q limited success"
Meanwhile, field dispatches re-
ported that the American striking
force which captured Sened, and
dug in q mile east Of the town on
the rail line through Maknassy to
the coast, had taken prisoner an
Italian general.
Bombers Attack Gabes.
Allied bombers attacked the port
Of Gabes and enemy positions near
Maknassy. For one Of the few
times since the start of the fight
for Tunisia they lost more planes
than they shot down. The commu,
nique said six Axis planes were de-
stroyed to eight Allied planes
missing.
Strong German forces apparently
held important Faid Pass on the
Central Tunisian front, inland from
Sfax, where they had held against
an American counterattack.
The British 9th Army appeared
to be massing for its next attack in
. correlated squeeze on the Axis in
Ttmisia., 8
A Cairo communique reported
British patrol activity along the
whole Lbyan- Tunisian border front,
and although 1t mentioned no spe-
CHIC advances yesterday, the main
body Of Gen. Sir Bernard L. Mont
gcmerys force apparently was piling
up behind Pisida, II miles from the
frontier.
Four small enemy vessels were
sent toi the bottom by Allied
bQmbefs from the east which ranged
the Tunisian coast and southern
Italian waters.
- An Admiralty communique said
British s,abmarines. hitting hard ct
the Tunisian supply line, destroyed
10 others IN the past few days, and
probably sank two OF three more
ships which were attacked. -.
Range from Coast to Coast.
The submarine successes were
scored. In operations from the
Tlnisian coast. within gun range
Of the shore, to the Strait Of
Messina, between italy and Sicily.
Striking by daylight yesterday,
B-A Ltberators Of the United States
Army's 9th Air Force attacked ship
ping and harbor installations at Pa
lermo and Messina in Sicily.
An italian communique, which
said the bombers attacked In waves,
said they encountered intense anti
aircraft fire and fighter opposition,
but the United States headquarters
at Cairo declared "all aircraft re-
turned"
The Italians said the attack was
directed against lone OF our air
and naval bases" and reported that
Ragusa, Sicily and Reggie Calabria,
at the toe Of the italian boot, also
were raided.
A French communique broadcast
last night by the Morocco radio de-
clared the Allies had made progress
In the southwest Of the Djebel Serdj
region, range Of hills seven miles
north Of Ousseltia.
The bulletin also reported lively
activity in the mountains between
Ousseltia and Kairouan, IS miles to
the southeast and SO miles south
west of the port Of Sousse.
"A German attack carried out by
one column led to rectification Of
the front In our favor" the COM
muniQue said.