OCCUPATION OF GABES

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23914, 5 April 1943, Page 5

OCCUPATION OF GABES

GERMANS LEAVE TOWN IN RUINS LONDON, April 2. The correspondent of the British United Press states .thfit bugs and kisses greeted the Bth Army men as they marched into Gabes. Tanks, Bren carriers, and lorries reached the town’s beaches in the afternoon, and the tired, dusty troops were soon swimming in the Mediterranean with young girls from the town, who had welcomed them. 1 The first dispatch from Gabes since the British entry into the town came from a special correspondent of “The Times,’’ who stated: “The Germans behaved towards the townsfolk with the same shameless barbarity often displayed in Eastern Europe, but never before in Africa. Gabes was a dainty colonial town. It is now in ruins, and as much was done by the Germans towards the destruction as by Allied bombardments. “The Germans stripped the shops and houses of all doors, windows, and furniture for cooking food. They burst into bedrooms at all hours of the day and night, apparently for the sole reason of terrifying womenfolk and giving vent to their hatred of the French, Just before leaving the town the Germans swooped on the banks and, oh the pretext of seizing all Jewish holdings, took almost all their currency from Jews. They seized stocks of all sorts, including women’s jewellery and cash. "The town was twice attacked from the air on the night of March 26, first by the Royal Air Force, but everybody agrees that the second raid was by the Germans themselves. That was the town’s last bombardment before the British entered.”

ALGIERS CONVOY ATTACKED

BERLIN RADIO REPORT (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. April 4. The Berlin radio says Axis bombers and torpedo aeroplanes on Friday night attacked a strongly protected giant British convoy west of Algiers, resulting in the probable destruction of two transports totalling 14,000 tons, and also a destroyer which was left motionless and listing.

MESSINA FERRY ATTACK

ALLIED AIR RAID (8.0. W.) RUGBY, April 3. A Middle East air communique states, “Heavy bombers attacked Messina on Thursday night. Bomb bursts were seen near the ferry terminus. At dawn on Friday a second attack on Messina was carried out from a height of 50 feet. “Direct hits were scored on the ferry terminus and on a ferry boat. Heavy damage was inflicted also upon the ferry terminus and on one ferry boat at San Gionvanni. A Junkers 52 was shot down over the straits of Messina. From these and other operations all our aircraft returned safely.” The Admiralty states that during operations off Tunisia an enemy aircraft was shot down by the trawler Fluellen,

NAVAL LOSSES IN WAR

TOTAL FIXED AT 1716 VESSELS '

(Rec, 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April S. “Seapower." a semi-official monthly publication, has compiled the total naval losses of the war. not including merchantmen, and Axes it at 1716 vessels, of which the Axis owned 903 and the Allies 813. Allied losses are specified as seven battleships and battle-cruisers, 11 carriers, 13 heavy cruisers, 25 light cruisers, 177 destroyers, 88 submarines, and 492 special types. Axis losses are placed at four battleships, 11 aircraft carriers, 20 heavy cruisers, 31 light cruisers, 175 destroyers, 218 submarines, and 444 special types.