SHATTERING BLOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 January 1943, Page 3

SHATTERING BLOW

STRUCK BY AMERICAN AIRCRAFT AGAINST SOUTH TUNISIAN PORT EIGHTH ARMY FIFTY MILES BEYOND TRIPOLI, LONDON, January 29. -The chief news, from the African front yesterday was of a very severe raid on Sfax, the important Tunisian eastcoast port. The attack was carried out by tlie largest American bomber force ever assembled in North Africa. The whole raid was concentrated into 30 minutes.

American bombers, escorted by fighters swept over the in four waves. Flying Fortresses led the way, dropping heavy bombs on the docks and starting big fires. Mitchells then took up the attack over the railway yards, going over in two waves, dropping bombs at 50-foot intervals and scoring direct hits on the track and on a military camp. Last of all came a force of Marauders, which created havoc among enemy shipping and scored direct hits on warehouses round the harbour. The Italians admit that heavy damage was caused in this raid. Sfax will be one of Rommel’s chief supply bases if he tries to call a halt on the Mareth Line. The Ger-man-controlled Paris radio announced today that 'Rommel does intend to make a stand there. His forces have reached the line, it stated, and their westward move has come to a halt. Just over 100 miles east of the Mareth Line, the guns of the British Eighth Army have exchanged fire with enemy batteries near Zuara. This means that the British troops have advanced 50 miles beyond Tripoli. THREAT TO MARETH LINE. While General Montgomery's- troops are closing in on Tunisia from the east, the Algiers radio reports .that American troops have reached" the railway town of Maknassi, 75 miles from the town of Mareth, and 45 miles from the coast. This attack threatens not only the rear of the Mareth Line but also Rommel’s chances of joining his main forces with the army in the north. The Algiers radio also reports great activity by British troops in northern Tunisia. In the extreme south of Tunisia, General Giraud’s forces have taken a port and in co-operation with General Leclere’s forces, have also occupied the oasis of Ghadames, PERSISTENT RAIDS ON SICILY AND ITALY. MIDDLE EAST OFFICIAL REPORT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 29. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) A Middle East joint communique states: “Yesterday our troops continued their progress westward. There were artillery exchanges in the coastal sector near Zuara. Bad weather hampered air activity. “During Wednesday night successful attacks on rail communications in Southern Italy and in Sicily were resumed and yesterday other targets in these areas were again attacked. All our aircraft returned.” HEAVY BOMBING OF SFAX AND OTHER TARGETS. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, January 29. A North Africa communique states: ‘Fighters attacked enemy troops in the Ouseltia Valley and armoured vehicles further north. “Sfax harbour and railway yards were bombed heavily by forces of our aircraft and many fires were left burning. Six enemy aircraft were shot down. Roads in the Pont du Fahs area were bombed on Wednesday night. Two of our aircraft are missing. Last night a few enemy aircraft dropped bombs in the Algiers area. Three were destroyed.’’ INTERCEPTING ROMMEL THE AMERICAN SOUTHWARD THRUST.. (Received This Day. 10.12 a.m.) RUGBY, January 29. Maknaasy, which, according to the Algiers radio, American troops have occupied, is a town and railway junction some 75 miles north of the Mareth Line and a little over 200 miles from the advanced elements of the Eighth Army. The strength of the American force is not known, but if it succeeded in establishing itself across Rommel’s line of retreat it could clearly play an important harassing role, even if it were in insufficient strength to hold up Rommel’s retreat until the main striking force of the Eighth Army could be brought up to -smash him.