STEADY PROGRESS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 169, 29 April 1943, Page 3

STEADY PROGRESS

HEAVY FIGHTING IN TUNISIA.

ALLIED BLOWS FROM THE AIR. THREE GERMAN VESSELS SUNK. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 2S. A communique issued in North Af rica states: “Allied troops yesterday continued to make steady progress. On the Ist Army front the fighting in the Medjez el Bab sector has. been hard, the attack being followed by a counter-attack throughout the day. 2nd United States Corps made good progress in the hills. French forces operating in the area of Pont du Fahs have made considerable progress in difficult country and have advanced 15 miles during the last three days. Contact has been made with patrols of the Bth Army.

“Yesterday medium and light bombers made heavy attacks on concentrations of enemy troops. Direct hits were scored on many targets ai\d fires were started. Fighters continued their patrols and offensive sweeps of the battle area. , “On Monday night light bombers attacked an enemy airfield in Tunisia. Flying Fortresses yesterday attacked the airfield at Villa Cidro, in Sardinia. The whole target area was covered by bomb bursts and the aerodrome buildings were directly hit. “During the day three enemy aircraft were shot down and five were destroyed on Tuesday night. “From all these operations two of ours are missing but one pilot is safe. “Two German petrol carriers were sunk by our light coastal forces operating in the Gulf of Tunis on Sunday night. On Tuesday night a small enemy merchantman was sunk off Bizerta.”—British Official Wireless.