CONTINUED PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1943, Page 3

CONTINUED PROGRESS

AGAINST DESPERATE OPPOSITION LONGSTOP HILL CLEARED. WIDESPREAD AND EFFECTIVE AIR OPERATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, April 27. A North Africa communique states:— “The Tunisian battle was continued yesterday with unabated ferocity. On the First Army front armoured fighting continues in a sector south-west of Medjez el Bab, where we again made some progress against desperate opposition. British infantry cleared Longstop Hill, taking a further 260 prisoners. The French made a rapid advance and now occupy a hill overlooking Pont du Fahs.

The Second United States Corps continued their advance in difficult country to the north. The French in this sector are co-operating with good effect.

“Further gains were made yesterday on the left sector of the Eighth Army front.

“Wellington bombers on Saturday night attacked airfields in Sardinia, causing large explosions, and light bombers attacked lines of communication and motor transport. These attacks on enemy communications in Tunisia were continued yesterday by medium bombers. - * Flying Fortresses scored direct hits on aerodrome build ings at the airfield of Crosseto, in Italy. Fighter-bombers attacked shiping, hitting several vessels, two of which were sunk and others were left burning. Light bombers and fighter-bombers continued their attacks with increasing intensity on enemy positions and airfields in Tunisia. Eleven enemy aircraft were destroyed in the course of the day, and two on Sunday night. Eleven of our planes are missing. A large formation of heavy American bombers attacked an aerodrome at Bari, in ’ltaly, at daylight yestreday, directly hitting hangars, administration buildings and aircraft, causing many fires, explosions and very considerable damage. Long-range fighters sank a small vessel off Greece, and left a senooner in flames and in a sinking condition. One of our planes is missing.