The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-08
British, Americans Far
Out From Captured Tunis
and Bizerte
LAST.DITCH OF ENEMY
DEFENSE DTSREGARDED
French Troops Capture
Important Road junction
of POnt du Fans
by VIRGIL PINKLEY
United Press staff Correspondents

Allied Headquarters, North
Africa, May 8. - CUP -
Triumphant American Brit
ish and French forces famed
out from newly-captured
Tunis and Bizerte today to
clamp a stranglehold on
fleeing remnants OF the Axis
African armies, paving the
way for an invasion Of south
ern Europe.
IN the climatic showdown the
arrogant German and Italian forces
battered and beaten by savage
Allied onSlau9htS a-- surrendered or
lied without attempting II real last
ditch defense Of either BlScrte or
1ufiS.
Speculation grew IN Washington
and London that the Allies viii n
wade the soft underbcly' Of the
ASIs even before the final mop-uD
on Cap Bon Peninsula Is completed.
A United Press dispatch from Lon
don. said Allied landings on Europe
before summer and deep penetration
OF the continent before winter ap-
pearcd virtually certain,
While the bulk of Gen, Jurgen
Won Arnim'S German forces raced
for the rock ribbed Bon Peninsula
under terrific aerial onslaught fol
n "Bata0n stand" French forces
SlaShcd Into The enemyS gouth.
western flank and captured the In.
portant road junction Of Pont dU
Fahs and high ground 10 the east,
Gen, Dwight d, Eisenhower. 50.
premc Allied commander, and Gen
Sir Harold n, l., q, Alexander per,
sonally directed the nnal phpses Of
the lightning 30-hour offensive
that Cngulfcd both Tunis nno
BiScrte within five minutes OF ono
another yesterday. Eisenhower hm
now returned to Allied hcadquar
tors.
Patton Transferred
simultaneously It was disclosed
that Lieut. Gen, George s., Patton,
Jr, tank expert and commander OF
the End U, S, corps, has been trans.
iorred to another important com
mand replaced by Maj, Gen, Ompr
N, Bradley OF Missouri,
Bradley took over the command
of the 2nd corps following It's trans
fer from southwestern Tunisia &C.
the northern front and directed the
successful assault on the great navai
base Of Bi2crtc.
patton, known TO his troops aS
"Old Blood and CUTS because OF
his toughness and daring tactics,
presumably would play a leading
role IN any coming Mediterranean
landing operations, He Is one OF
the ablest and experienced Amerl-
can field commanders
Hundreds OF Allied bombers.
fighter-bombors and fighters we're
mercilessly bombing anG stralu9
Italo-Gorman troops and vehicles
clogged with troops, destroying many
vehicles and starting numerous fires.
EisenhowcrS communique reported
the Allies were enjoying complete
mastery OF the air. and were meet
tpe 30 effective oppoSitioD,
Ranging ahead OF the British First
Army. Allied bombers, fighter bomb
erS and fighters sank II ships. set
fire to a destroyer, scored hits on
several other vessels and blasted
dock installations in the gulf and
harbor of Tunis yesterday.
This brought the two-day toll Of
enemy shipping to AZ ships sunk and
five destroyerS sunk or damaged
Other planes swept northward to
the Sicilian ports to Trapani and
Marsala to bomb docks and ship
ping.
The Axis made no attempt to de.
fend either Tunis or Bizerte oE-1
the Allies had pierce dtneir outer
defenses, dspite earlier claims that
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