ALLIES DRIVING ON

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23942, 8 May 1943, Page 5

ALLIES DRIVING ON

Important Gains By Ist Army

U.S. ADVANCE ON WIDE FRONT

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON. May 7. The latest reports from.Tunisia state that the Allied forces are six miles from Bizerte and 10 miles from Tunis. The United States 2nd Corps is now advancing on a wide front, says the Algiers radio, and the Ist Army has made important gains south of Mejerda. The Berlin radio states that the German forces to shorten their defence line have transferred the fighting to the advanced defensive positions of Bizerte, while the French and Americans are pushing towards Ferryville. The launching of an attack by Allied troops against Tebourba is reported by the Paris radio, which adds that the fighting in this sector is growing every hour.

Reuter’s military correspondent says that now that the outer line of von Arnim’s defences is open there are no second or third lines upon which the enemy can retire. At the best the enemy may find temporary shelter within the perimeter of Bizerte or behind a line covering the Cape Bon Peninsula, but Tunis is now as exposed as an oyster whose shell has been cracked. The relative lull a few days ago was evidently employed by the Allies to rush up supplies and reinforcements for the final blow.