LONG WAY PAST MISURATA Eighth Army’s Drive

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 5

LONG WAY PAST MISURATA Eighth Army’s Drive

LONDON, January 19. “Our advance continued yesterday, states a communique from Cairo. It says that in the northern sector troops of the Eighth Army reached Zliten area, having passed through Misurata and Garibaldi. (Zliten is 30 miles beyond Misurata.) In the southern sector forces have driven the enemy from one area and inflicted tank losses, and are now in contact with the enemy in the lahuma 3103 Allied fighter-bombers continued to harass the withdrawing enemy. Castel Benito, the most important enemy air base in the Tripoli area, was heavily attacked, and more than 30 fires broke out among dispersed aircraft. A large number of fires were also started at an important road junction south of Tripoli. 1 npoli itself was bombed by day and night, and targets in Tunisia, bicily and Lampedusa Island were also raided. There were no losses in all the air operations.

A correspondent says that on the previous day (Sunday), fighting went on in all sectors, including the coastal sector, with the heavier fighting m the rough going in the centre, but this never developed into major engagements or tank battles. The greatest opposition came from shelling, machinegunning and the exploding of land mines, which had to be cleared up after the enemy had abandoned the stronglydefended Wadi Soffegin. Here contact occurred with slight casualties, and a number of prisoners were taken. By night the enemy was withdrawing on a front of 00 to 70 miles in a north-westerly direction, pursued by the British. FRENCH CONTINUE TO ATTACK Operations In Tunisia LONDON, January IS. / Today's communique from the French headquarters in North Africa says that General Giraud's troops have improved their positions south of Fondouk in spite of strong enemy resistance. An enemy attack about 30 miles east of this place was repulsed. An Allied forces communique states that there is no change in the .ground situation in '.Tunisia, and air activity is limited by adverse weather.