ATTACKS ON RETREATING ENEMY IN TUNISIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1943, Page 3

ATTACKS ON RETREATING ENEMY IN TUNISIA

Eighth Army Pressing on from Gabes AMERICAN & FRENCH TROOPS IN ACTION BRITISH SUBMARINES TAKING TOLL ‘OF AXIS SHIPPING LONDON, March 31. . Advance patrols of the British Eighth Army in Tunisia were last reported 10 miles beyond Gabes, on the road to Sfax. That was early yesterday morning and the British troops had been in touch with what today’s communique describes .as hastily prepared enemy defences. About 60 miles inland, American and French forces have made a further slight advance in their combined thrust in the El Guetar area and have come up against thick Axis minefields. French guns in the Pichon area smashed an enemy counterIn the extreme north, British troops yesterday recaptured Sed Jenane, a village on the road to Mateur. The Germans fought hard to capture this place earlier in the month, but they did not fight much to hold it. They left some prisoners behind. Bad weather has slowed up operations, particularly in the air, all through Tunisia, but it has not stopped air attacks on enemy airfields, troops and transport. Twelve enemy fighters were shot down yesterday for the loss of seven Allied aircraft. There is more news of the part British submarines are playing against German and Italian shipping in the Mediter- . ranean. They have recently sunk at least six enemy ships for certain and probably sunk others. One of the enemy ships sunk was a large one, fully laden and another which was sent to the bottom was Carrying a cargo of oil.