The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-04-08
DIARY OF THE WAR

French troops pushed them out.
American tanks and infantry renewed
advance toward Gabes and took 700
prisoners. 1t was disclosed Axis was
flying fresh troops into Tunisia.
Fortresses bombed Rommel supply
bases to bar path of escape. Raj
celebrated its 25th birthday with eX-
tensive sweeps over the continent
Reds gained in push to wipe out Nazi
Caucasian around Novorossisk, and
reduced another stronghold on Smol-
ensk front. War toll of Axis ships was
placed at million, Is thousand tons
SATURDAY - Rommel threw his
armor into a counter-attack against
Americans in Tunisia to try to pre-
vent them joining forces with Mont
gomery Axis were reported arming
south coast of Europe to prevent eX-
pected invasion. Sixteen Jap zeros
were shot down in Solomons area and
American bombers attacked five de-
stroyers and cargo ship. Army dis
closed it had shot down 1874 Jap
planes in last 3 months. Brazil air
force sank an Axis sub by bombs.
SUNDAY-American subs sank a
Jap destroyer, transport and two
freighters, it was announced. Bomb
ers raided Kiska island four times in
one day. Japs raided an Allied air
base in China. Raj made daylight
attacks in France, following up nights
raids of Axis sub bases. Situation in
Berlin and other big cities of Germany
was becoming internally serious after
recent bombings, it was reported
from Portugal. Belgians declared Ger
mans were reinforcing Notifications
of Belgian army built before invasion
of 1910, Americans in Tunisia ham
mered the Nazi flank seeking to clear
hills around Ell Guetar. Rommel was
using thousands of mines and BOBBY
traps to slow up advance. Areas of
German retreat in Russia were re-
vealing the Nazi policy of total de-
struction
MONDAY-Allied aerial campaign
against German war industries gath
cred momentum with 1873 American
fortresses hitting the big Renault
motor and armament works on out
skirts of Paris. Fortresses also de-
stroyed 25 enemy fighters. Allied
losses were 4 fortresses and 7 fight
ers. British bombers hit at Essen and
its krupp munitions factory. Twenty
one were lost in this foray. Ameri-
cans drove through hills east of Ell
Guetar in southern Tunisia toward
junction with British army In Aerial
combat Americans shot down ii Ger
man dive bombcrs. Germans in Russia
were striking hard for a weak point
in Soviet defense south of Kharkov
1T appeared Hitler was preparing to
open another spring offensive there.
In Pacific area planes swept to ka-
vleng in New Ireland and sank 2 Jap
cruisers and a destroyer and damaged
4 other destroyers. Allied planes also
pounded Jap base at Kiska in eight
separate assaults. All bombers re-
turned safely.
TUESDAY - Antwerp was raided
by a large force of American planes
blasting Erla airplane repair shops.
klel, German naval base, was attacked
by Raj with loss of II. Conveys off
Norway were also attacked. Naples in
Italy was bombed by hundred Fort
resses with admittedly great damage.
In central Tunisia Americans drove
eastward against heavy opposition
and seized commanding hills near
GabcsGafsa road. British army in
north Tunisia also inched forward to-
ward Bizertc. Rommel was said to be
in Italy, where he had command of
defense of southern Europe Germans
IN Russia made futile efforts to bridge
the Doncts southeast of Kharkoy
Reds improved positions in Kuban
valley in Caucasus. A three-day Allied
assault in Pacific ended with sinking
or serious damaging of twelve enemy
ships and dispersal of others. Planes
raided Jap positions at Rangoon in
Burma.
WEDNESDAY, - British Eighth
Army opened new offensive against
the Axis, smashing outlying enemy
posts at bayonet point with veteran
tank columns in support. This fol-
lowed a concentrated artillery bar
rage. Meanwhile Allied air forces
struck most effective blows to Axis
lifeline in Tunisia with 81 enemy air
craft shot down and a destroyer sunk.
U. S. bombers in raid near Sicily shot
own 81 transport planes carrying gas
oline and men to Rommel. Raj photos
revealed that Berlin was hard hit in
recent raids. Raj staged intensive at
tacks on railways, airdromcs and on
power stations in daylight sweeps
over France. Reds drove back Ger
mans in lzyum sector and Russian
guns silcnced 60 German frepoints in
Western CausaSus. InconcluSivc Skin
mishing took place on other sectors
of the 1,50O mile front. Knox declared
the Uboat offensive in the Atlantic