SHOTS EXCHANGED Eighth Army Patrols

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 108, 1 February 1943, Page 5

SHOTS EXCHANGED Eighth Army Patrols

Enter Tunisia

SPEARHEAD 50 MILES FROM FRONTIER (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received January 31, 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, January 30.

Armoured cars yesterday carried the first British patrols along an inland road across the Tunisian frontier, says Reuter’s Cairo correspondent. There was an exchange o£ shelling and a good deal of sniping. The spearhead of the Eighth Army near the coast is still about 50 miles from the frontier. A Middle East communique states: “In the course of patrol operations yesterday our forward elements in the central sector crossed the Tunisian border. Otherwise there is nothing to report. Again bad flying weather hampered air activity yesterday and the previous night. From limited operations, all our aircraft returned.” It is pointed out in London that the phrase, “central sector,” is unlikely to indicate an advance in several separate columns. It is believed the border was crossed 20 to 25 miles from the coast. New German Tanks. Germany’s new 62-ton "Tiger” tanks, equipped with 88 millimetre guns, have appeared in Tunisia, states an Algiers message. They are not much bigger than the German Mark Four, but are about twice the weight because of their tremelidous armour, the turret being protected by 7in. armour-plating and the sides by sin. plating. A French headquarters communique broadcast by Morocco radio, states: “In the mountainous regions near Kairouan, one of our units has taken positions held by German units. The enemy left 35 dead.” Heavy Air Attacks. A communique from the Allied force headquarters states: “There is no change In the ground situation. Enemy vehicles on roads in tlie forward area were attacked yesterday and the previous night. Our bombers raided aerodromes at Gabes and Tunis and the harbour at Bizerta where the targets, the dock area, and ships, were hit. “A heavily-laden south-bound convoy between Sicily and Tunisia was bombed and two vessels were hit. During these attacks, our bombers and escorting fighters shot down eight enemy aircraft, while one of our fighters destroyed an enemy bomber off the Algerian coast. From all operations, four of our aircraft are missing. Last night, four enemy bombers were destroyed.” An agency correspondent says the convoy which was attacked consisted of two large cargo liners, six freighters, four destroyers and several smaller vessels. Two direct hits were scored on one cargo liner, blowing away the superstructure, while hits on the second cargo liner started fires with flames rising hundreds of feet into the air. Direct hits were also reported on a small freighter, causing it to explode. The heaviest American bomber force ever assembled iu North Africa yesterday raided Sfax, on tlie east coast of Tunisia. The whole raid was concentrated into 30 minutes. It was made in four waves. Heavy damage is admitted by the Italians. Another force of Mitchells, escorted by Lightnings, attacked the El Aouina aerodrome, destroying a considerable number of the 50 fighters on the ground.