Evening star., 1943-02-15
German Forces Advance 2OMi|es
In Drive on Americans in Tunisia:
Reds Reported Smelling Taganrog
Anchor at Gufsu
Is Endangered;
oil Heavy
MAP on Page A-j.)


LONDON, Feb. 15.-A battle fol
Central Tunisia was developing
today west of Faid Pass, with the
Germans driving some 20 miles
into American-held positions in a
strong attack with infantry, ar
tillery, dive bomberS and tanks
perhaps sent on ahead of the
Afrika KorpS by Marshal Erwin
Rommel
American forces at Sidi Bouzid, 10
miles southwest of Faid Pass, were
said to have suffered heavily yester-
day morning under dive bomber at
tacks. and at 9 am were, last re-
ported moving back to the south
west.
Dispatches from the front said the
Germans threw in at least 100 tanks
and used dive bombers repeatedly.
A spokesman at Allied headquar-
ters indicated there was little doubt
from the forces engaged in the at
tack that it was sprung by Rommel's
veterans, the advance guard of his
tank corps.
Heavy Fighting Continues.
An Allied communique announced
that heavy fighting took place and
Is continuing"
At Allied headquarters it was dis
closed that the American anchor
position at Gafsa, go miles south
west of Faid Pass, was in obvious
danger of being cut off and might
have to be evacuated temporarily.
The Germans attacked at 7 am.
yesterday, sweeping through Faid
Pass, overwhelming American aTtil-
lery positions which guarded the
westward exit of the pass and fan
ming out to the northwest and south
west.
A Reuters dispatch from the front
said another spearhead was thrust
westward from the hills north of
of Sened toward the road to Gafsa
from Sidi Bouzid, 10 miles southwest
of Faid Pass. .,r.
A Berlin broadcast quoted Ger
man military spokesman as saying
that "a mobile German force has
captured Sidi Bouzid," destroying IA
American tanks
The German high commands COM
munique made no mention of such
gain, however, and told only of
lively patrol activity" on the Tunis-
Ian land front.
Gales Lash Area.
Unprecedented gales which for
three days lashed the battle area
at the opposite flank, along the
Tunisian- -Tripolitanian border, all
but immobilized ground action there
Heavy seas broke over the coast
and rain turned the inland salt
marshes into bogs.
The British 9th Army moved
slowly ahead, however, along the
coastal road toward Ben Gardane.
25 miles inside the Tunisian border.
Air activity from the east was
curtailed sharply.
From the west the Allied air force
was reported giving its ground
forces strong protection and hitting
hard at German tank and transport
columns.
United States Liberator bombers
sped across the Mediterranean by
daylight Saturday to smash again
at the important Italian supply base
Of Naples on the Italian mainland
and attack the airdrome. barracks
and warehouses of Crotone in the
extreme south OF Italy.
Formation of 50 Attached.
Other airmen fell on a formation
Of so German transport planes
bound north over the Mediterranean
and sent six crashing into the sea
Twelve more Axis planes were re-
ported destroyed in aerial operations
stretching over wide area. Only
three Allied planes were lost.
Allied bombers rsided the main
Axis stronghold in Tunisia at Bi-
zerte and Tunis and in 30-minute
running over Tunis and on the re-
turn flight sent four MesserschmittS
crashing to earth.
The Algiers radio said early today
that Rommels forces were Continu-
ing their Withdrawal in the Ber
Gardane area Is miles west Of the
TUnisia Tripolitania border.
-Four American bombers and three
fighters were credited with sending
the six German transports into the
sea in an engagement over the Sicil.
ian Straits between Tunisia anc
Sicily
The results of the raid on Naples
could not be determined because OF
heavy cloud formations. but fire,
we're left burning in Crotone. it wa,
announced
Giraud Continues Cleanup
Meanwhile, Gov Gen Henri Hon.
ore Giraud. high commissioner 0.
French Africa, continued his grad.
ual cleanup of the North African
administration. The new cabinet Of
Marcel Peyrouton, Governor of Al.
giere, contained the names O.
French colonial officers who are
without definite political alignment.
except for a common dislike of Ger.
mans. Antoine Gardel, formerly 8
trusted lieutenant of Gen. MAXINE
Weygand, was named chief of tht
government press bureau.
1t. Roger Malfettes, an officer O
Gen. Charles de Gaulle's fighting
French forces, and 1t Yves Preusse
Of Gen. Giraud's army appeared a
press conference yesterday ant
said French soldiers made no dis
tinction between the two Frencl
leaders and aimed only TO beat tn
Germans and lberate France"