Evening star., 1943-05-04
Americans Push I oword Bizerte,
Shell Town 8 Miles From Port
After Tanning Out From Moteur
100 Borges Are Blasted
By Allied WorpIones
In Heavy Attack
BY the Associated Press.


ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA, May 4.-Swift-
driving American troops, quick
to capitalize on their middle po-
sition after the seizure of Ma
teur, pounded forward hard
today on the heels of retreating
Germans toward Ferryville,
which is 10 miles to the north
east, and the dock area Of the
naval base of Bizerte.
At the same time, other forces
famed out toward the southeast
and smashed to a point eight miles
south of Mateur toward the line OF
the Tine River, only six miles north
west Of Tebourba, the gateway to
Tunis.
There was heavy air activity also
Despite a day of low clouds, dust
haze and thunderstorms, Maj Gen
James H. Doolittle sent a strong
force" of Flying Fortresses, escorted
by Lightnings and Spitfres, against
the enemy base of Bizerte and
blasted a feet of more than 100
barges lining the quays where they
could be used for evacuation of the
enemy's forces.
Bombs Damage Jetties.
Considerable damage was done
when their bombs landed on jetties
opposite the submarine base, on
hangers at the naval base and in
the town near the harbor mouth,
pilots reported.
After advancing about 10 miles
the American troops were only 10
miles from Tebourba.
(The French, in a communique
recorded by the Associated Press
from the Algiers radio, said CON
siderable progress" was made
north of Lake Achkel in a drive
along the Mediterranean on
Bizerte's defenses in cooperation
with American troops, and an
nounced the beginning of new
offensive in the south.
("Our forces passed to the at
tack this morning" and began an
assault on Pont du Fahs, hinge
of the line between the British
1st and 9Th armies, the commune
que said. The operation is pro-
ceeding favorably. More than
100 prisoners have already been
TAKEN" it added)
(The British radio. l.. broad
cast recorded by CHS, said Long
range Allied guns now have
Ferryville under fire and several
Axis airfields in the area have
now been made untenable by
shellfire."
(Ferryville, on the southwest
shore OF Lake Bizerte, is about
eight miles from the naval base
which is situated on the north
east shore. The broadcast said
the Americans had come up
against new line of resistance"
IN the advance on Ferryville.)
Cross River Tine.
In the northeastward push the
Americans crossed the River Tine,
despite the destruction of a bridge
by the withdrawing forces of Col.
Gen. Jurgen Won Arnim, and showed
on toward Ferryville.
(Ths Tine, rising southwest of
Mateur, flows northeastward a
short distance east of Mateur and
empties into the marshy land
bordering Lake Achkel, one of the
chain of lakes forming Bizerte's
southern defenses)
To the north of Lake Achkel the
French African Corps with it's fierce
Moroccan Counters and American
elements pressed in on Bizerte's
western hill defenses, threatening to
flank the lakes.
This force kept pace with the
Americans, reaching a road juno
ton at the northwest corner of Lake
Achkel and continued to probe the
thicket-covered highlands which
cover the coastal belt to Bizerte,
Is miles away
There was no indication as vet
how far the advanced elements of
the American forces might be able
to proceed toward Ferryville with
out meeting strong resistance. But
high ground on the east side OF the
road few miles from that objective
afforded the Axis an opportunity to
make a stand to protect the ap-
proaches to Bizerte
Ridge Intervenes.
The southern prong of the Ameri-
can offensive drove up the direct
road from Beja to Mateur, then
turned south and east toward the
Tine River.
A ridge as well as the watercourse
however, intervened between the
Americans and Tebourba, the OBJ
jective of the British 1st Army
which has engaged in bloody fight
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