GAINED BY ALLIES IN NORTH TUNISIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1943, Page 3

GAINED BY ALLIES IN NORTH TUNISIA

Some Progress by Americans In El Guetar Area HEAVY TOLL TAKEN OF ENEMY AIR FORCES BIG AXIS TANKER SUNK BY SUBMARINE LONDON, April 4. Once again, today the only report of land movements on the Tunisian front comes from the northern sector. The main Allied thrust is on the road from Sed Jenane to Mateur, where more ground has been gained. A second Allied force is keeping pace along the coast. This morning it occupied Cape Serrat, 35 miles from Bizerta. The enemy had withdrawn from this area. Correspondents say the enemy is withdrawing in many places on the northern front. They have also left behind dumps of ammunition and supplies. On the Eighth Army’s front lively patrol activity against Rommel’s new defence line is reported. This line, it is stated, is likely to prove a tolerably stiff obstacle to progress, though it is less formidable than the Mareth Line. American forces in the El Guetar area have gained a little more ground in the face of very stiff resistance and very thick minefields. A considerable number of panzers have been knocked out and many Germans killed or taken prisoner. A force of Stuka dive-bombers ran right into 12 American Spitfires on patrol. Fourteen of the enemy planes were destroyed for the loss of one Spitfire. Altogether, four Allied aircraft were lost over Tunisia yesterday, with one pilot safe. In addition to the 14 Stukas, the Germans lost six other machines. Another big enemy tanker bound for North Africa has been sent to the bottom of the Mediterranean. It was escorted by four destroyers. A British submarine dodged the destroyers and sent three torpedoes into the tanker at point-blank range. Another British submarine went right inside the Gulf of Genoa to bombard Italian oil storage tanks, at a point about 25 miles from the French frontier. The shore batteries opened fire, but all their shells missed.