The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-07


 seen in warfare of this nature,
 The aerial offensive made possible by the brilliant work of Britain s Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur w, Tedder and his American deputy, Lieut.. Gen, Carl A, ,Spaatz, was followed by drive to the Tunis plain which captured Djebcl Perndy, four miles southwest of Massicault
 Other infantry followed through, clearing the way for British armor while British artillery on captured DJebcl Bou Ooukaz hammered back all enemy efforts to reorganize for a counter attack,
 Then the tanks roared through, They raced down the slopes and were at last on the Tunis plain and ahead of them were what was left of the German armor.
 Thirty-five Axis tanks were group cd on the south side of the main road to Tunis, North of the road were 25 others, They were a pitiful remnant of what was once Marshal Erwin Rommels hard-hitting Pan- gers in the Afrika Korps.
 The British armor attacked im- mediately. There was sharp fighting as the Germans fell back after suf- fering serious losses.
 Preliminary reports said at least six enemy tanks were destroyed but 1t was believed the final toll would be larger.
 The offensive rolled on through Massicault and by early Friday the British tnaks were on high ground close to St. Cyprien.
 Outhanked by the sudden thrust were German troops still holding out In the Medjerda Valley west of Tebourba, farther north.
 The British also by-passed for later mopping up numerous pockets of resistance and isolated gun posi- tions, as well as vast mine1ieldS.
 The U. s. 2nd Army Corps was advancing on Bizerte from the west and southwest. The capture of the Djebel Cheniti range of hills some 10 miles west of the naval base car ried the troops making up the northern arm of the pincers on to a plain stretching all the way to the port itself.
 Approaching Ferryville
 To the southwest, American forces pushing up the road from Mateur were approaching Ferryville, naval dockyard town between Lake Bizerte and Achkel 10 miles below Bizerte.
 On the southern front, the Brit ish Eighth Army made a local at- tack southeast of Saouaf, about mid- way between Pont Du Fans and En- fidaville, the communique said. Con- siderable artillery and patrol &C., tivity also were reported from this front.
 The text of the communique:
 "The offensive launched east of Medjez yesterday morning by the First Army continued to make good progress. All gains have been firm ly secured and our armor has made further considerable advances to- wards Tunis. The enemy's losses in personnel and equipment have been considerable, but no figures are yet available.
 "In the northern sector, the 2nd GU. S) Corps have captured four important features and their ad- vanced elements are now within nine miles of Bizerte. Over 1000 prisoners have been taken in this sector in the last two days.
 "In the south. the Eighth Army has made a local attack in the sec- tor southeast of Souaf, and there has been considerable artillery and patrol activity.
 "Air:-Further reports received of yesterdays air operations by light bombers. fighter -bombers and fight CTS of the tactical air force dur ing their day of intensive activity in cooperation with the Army show that a total of 20 enemy aircraft were destroyed in combat. In addi- ton to the operations of the strate- gic air force already reported, BPS medium bombers yesterday attacked the docks and shipping at Favig- mana. Bombers and fighter-bombers of the strategic air force during the course of the days shipping sweeps sank a total of II small vessels and scored direct hits on several others; many ships were also sunk in the attacks on the Sicial ports. Three enemy aircrafts were shot down during these operations. Fighter bombers of the desert air force in addition to the destroyer which blew up after being attacked. scored di- rect hits on another destroyer.
 During the night Of May 5-6 light bombers attacked enemy air- fields in Tunisia and started sev- eral fires
 Prom all these operations 10 of our aircraft are missing" (End texD