The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-31

tContinued from Page ~
retiring late Tuesday from the en-.
tire sector east Of Fl Guettar, since
the loss Of Gabes made It almost
impossible for them to hold long
without being outiianked.
Thus the advance OF the British
Eighth Army under Gen. Sir Ber-
nard l.. Montgomery from the south
and the advance Of Americans I'M
der Lieut.. Gen. George s. Patton,
Jr, from the west was making for
a junction somewhere north Of
Gabes. The two armies are Still per-
haps so miles apart but Rommel
obviously could not risk being
caught IN the trap and began pull
ing back on both fronts. As re-
suit, junction Of the British and
American forces may not be long
delayed except for rear-guards and
mine fields.
How far Rommel will withdraw
before attempting TO establish a new
defense line was uncertain. Officials
emphasized that the enemy Still had
plenty Of fight left but Allied air
forces are hammering him at every
opportunity In an effort to prevent
him from reorganizing his lines. The
Luftwaffe, fighting defensive bat
tie In the air, lost IL more planes
yesterday and the Allies lost seven.
[Rommel's retirement from
southern Tuuisia appeared to be
progressing so rapidly that observ-
ers In London suggested he might
be unable to find O favorable posi-.
ton until he reaches Sousse, lao
air line miles north Of Gabes. al
though a stand might be made In
the Sfax sector, Axis radio reports,
whoever, told Of severe fighting
In the Ousseltia area, SO miles west
Of Sousse, indicating that Allied
pressure was being renewed all
along the Tunisian front.)
In the northernmost sector Of
Tunisia, the British First Army.
aided by native Moroccan troops,
recaptured the town Of Sedpenane,
taking additional prisoners.
Sedpenane lies % miles from the
key naval base of Biserte and 81
miles from TuniS. Doth Of which
are prime detectives In the northern
thrust to crush the enemy against
the coast and cut on all lines Of
retreat.
Only lielt resistance was en-
countere6 by the British, who late
Tuesday afternoon advanced seven
miles farther southeast Of Sedpen-
ane In a push that was supported
by artillery. The results OF this
thrust were not fully known.
Allied air superiority continued
almost unchanged except for
dwindling defensive fighting by the
Luftwaffe. which was unable to pre-
vent the British and American
squadronS from battering enemy
lines Of communication throughout
Tunisia.
(Reports broadcast by Algiers
radio on Tuesday that British war
ships had landed troops at Sfax
lacked official confirmation In any
allied source today. Madrid re-
ported that Rommel had ordered
destruction Of Sfax harbor).
Some 20 miles northwest Of the
Gabes bottleneck, the American
Fifth Army drove farther eastward
toward the coastal road over which
Rommel Is retreating, but mine.
fields were impeding its advance, the
allied c0mnunique disclosed.
A dispatch from Phil AuIt, United
Press correspondent with American
forces In South Central Tunisia, said
that British naval vessels had
shelled the coastal road yesterday
seeking 10 wreck Romimrs only
first class retreat route from the
south. British warships on Monday
had shelled Oabes.
In Northern Tunisis. the British
First Army also continued TO nd.
vance 70 the east and re-captured
Eedjenane. % miles southwest Of
Bizerte. after an Il-mile advance
from Diebel Abiod. Prisoners were
taken.
Ceaseless B0mblngs
Besides Oudref, the coInmunique
said British also occupied nearby
Metouia. The western desert air
striking force. considered the great
est air force ever Tnassed In Africa,
continued It's ceaseless bombiugs
and stgafingS Of enemy positions