DRIVING ON

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 106, 6 May 1943, Page 5

DRIVING ON

ALLIES NEAR BIZERTA Over 5000 Enemy Prisoners Already Taken N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright Rec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, May 5. Sidi Abmed, the big airfield about six miles from the city of Bizerta, is reported to be under the fire of our long-range guns, which only two days ago were shelling Mateur, says the National Broadcasting Company's representative at Algiers. We have already taken many Axis airfields in the last part of the campaign, which thus far has netted an estimated total of 5000 prisoners. The bag will grow as the entire front flares into action. The Daily Mail correspondent at Allied Headquarters reports that French and American columns have occupied over half of the northern shore of Lake Achkel and are swinging towards Bizerta, which is now within range of Allied heavy artillery. Axis Northern Flank Collapses The whole northern flank of the Axis bridgehead in Tunisia has collapsed, says the Algiers correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting System. The enemy now has fallen back on prepared positions fronting Bizerta, with French and American forces closing in from the west and the south. The threat to Bizerta is growing hourly, says the Daily Telegraph correspondent at Allied Headquarters. Allied planes ceaselessly are bombing the only road connecting Bizerta and Tunis. American forces fanning out from Mateur have pushed 10 miles down the road through the mountains toward Teburba, while First Army troops advancing from Medjez el Bab are under seven miles west of Teburba. Some of the American forces which skirted the shores of Lake Achkel are now in positions from which their artillery is able to shell the town of Ferryville across the lake, as well as the road running across the narrow neck of land between Lake Achkel and Lake Bizerta,, says Reuters correspondent with the American forces. . Eighth Army artillery on the right of the French has been hammering at the Axis mountain positions. A correspondent says the enemy has made several efforts to ease his cramped position on this front, but General Montgomery's men have stood their ground and are keeping the Axis forces securely penned inside the mountains well to the norm and north-west of Enfidaville. Meanwhile our forces are grouping for the final attack.