ATTACKS IN STRENGTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1943, Page 3

ATTACKS IN STRENGTH

MADE BY ALLIED AIRCRAFT NUMBER OF ENEMY SHIPS SUNK OR DAMAGED. TUNIS AND LA GOULETTE BOMBED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, May 6. A North Africa communique states: “Yesterday heavy and medium bombers renewed their attacks, in strength, on enemy shipping, ports and airfields Flying Fortresses sank a large merchant vessel, while medium bombers sank a ship and scored hits on three others. In one shipping sweep, a Lightning escort shot down nine enemy aircraft which they encountered. The harbours of Tunis and La Goulette were bombed by Flying Fortresses. Many bombs were seen to burst in the target area, and a large ship was hit. Fighterbombers in the Gulf of Tunis scored direct hits on three vessels. Throughout the day fighters were active over the battle areas, and destroyed two enemy aircraft. From all operations four of our aircraft are missing.”

BIG NAVAL GUNS

AVAILABLE FOR LAND DEFENCE OF BIZERTA. PILLBOXES ON APPROACHES. LONDON, May 6. Bizerta’s big naval installations are located round the lake. It was known some time ago that the port’s 18-inch guns could be swung round to defend the land approaches, which are also fortified with pillboxes. In other sections the battles continue. The French are attacking Tunisia’s highest mountain —Zaghouan. General Leclerc, whose men fought their way up from French Equatorial Africa, has joined in the Eighth Army’s artillery bombardment of tlie enemy’s positions.

FIRST ARMY ASSAULT

OPENED IN EARLY MORNING.

AMERICANS ON LAST HILLS DEFENDING BIZERTA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, May 6. The First Army opened an offensive in Tunisia at 3 a.m. With a terrific barrage from 400 guns, an infantry assault was made northward of Medjez el Bab, hinged on Peter’s Corner, which lies on the road through Massicault to Tunis, which is the main highway into the port. Further north the American Second Corps is attacking towards Bizerta, having occupied Jebel Cheniki, the last range of hills defending the port.