OF ENEMY AIRFIELDS IN AFRICA AND SICILY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1943, Page 3

OF ENEMY AIRFIELDS IN AFRICA AND SICILY

Maintained By Allied Heavy Bombers FLYING FORTRESSES WRECK 73 LARGE PLANES ON GROUND ARMIES CLOSING IN ON AXIS DEFENCES LONDON, April 14. Allied aircraft have been giving’ enemy airfields in and beyond North Africa one of the biggest batterings they have yet had. Throughout yesterday the Allied planes kept up attacks started the previous night. One of the airfields attacked is that used by the big transport aircraft on which the Axis is now relying for supplies from Sicily. Flying Fortresses took of operations at the other end of the enemy ferry service by attacking two airfields in Sicily. They found both airfields full of aircraft and wrecked at least 73 of them. PRELUDE TO CRITICAL BATTLE Advance guards of the Eighth Army in Tunisia are in contact with prepared enemy positions between Enfidaville and the high ground to the west. Correspondents say the probing that is now going on is the prelude to the great and critical battle to come. It is along the high ground near Enfidaville that Rommel is now busy regrouping his men to make a stand along a front stretching’ 35 miles inland. The fate of Enfidaville itself is not known. No official news gives, any indication as to whether it is in German or British hands. . On the Eighth Army’s flank, the French forces are doing well. They are now getting very close to the western end of the German defence line. After mopping up the heights near Pichon, they have occupied a place 15 miles south-west of Pont du Fahs. . General Anderson’s men continue to advance between Beja and Mateur. They are fighting now for the high ground that runs north to Mateur and have reached a height 25 miles from Mateur itself.