DRIVE TOWARDS BIZERTE

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

DRIVE TOWARDS BIZERTE

STRONG THRUST BY AMERICANS ENEMY TAKEN BY SURPRISE (Rec. 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. The 2nd United States Corps is making good progress in its offensive against Bizerte, which was launched simultaneously with the Ist Army’s drive towards Tunis. In a dispatch written on Wednesday night, a correspondent says that while the Ist Army was attacking Jebel Bu Aoukaz. the Americans were continuing their advance towards Bizerte and also to the east from Mateur. The strength of the American push evidently caught the enemy by surprise, and the enemy on Wednesday did everything to hold the Americans up. The Americans continued slowly but solidly. Their forces, moving eastwards along the road from Mateur and turning southward to Jedeida, had advanced only a few miles on Wednesday morning when the enemy sent about 30 tanks to meet them, The enemy was supported by anti-tank guns hidden on the ridges overlooking the road, but the American tanks in swift battles knocked out seven German tanks and sent the remainder scurrying back. The Americans also advanced some miles down the road running south-east from Mateur, but found the enemy holding positions with guns and infantry in the range of hills which overlooks the road. The Americans heading towards Bizerte met increased opposition. The

enemy used the Ferryville guns to shell the roads approaching the port. American reconnaissance units, however, moved along the road to within less than 10 miles of the port. The Americans advancing on the northern side of Lake Garaa-Achkel also continued to make ground, but the enemy was able to shell the roads and also held positions in the hills from which he was able to machine-gun and use mortars.

The huge rock standing at the western end of Lake Garaa-Achkel proved a tough nut to crack. Named Jebel Achkel and christened by the Americans “Ashcan,” it has very steep sides into which the enemy had dug caves for machine-gun and mortar posts. From this high feature the enemy also was able to observe all the American movements on both sides of the lake. When the Americans attacked it first early on Wednesday morning, they were held up by the enemy firing down. The Americans immediately brought up very heavy field guns to rub out these strongpoints. The enemy fired shrapnel over the American gunners when they brought their guns into position, but the Americans were firing the field guns at less than 2000 yards range, and more than 200 Germans walked out of their strongpoints and surrendered. Some still held out, so the Americans had to rub them out one by one.

Meanwhile the enemy guns were shelling Mateur, and the bursts of shells from the American guns could be seen across the lake in Ferryville. The enemy tried to hold up the Americans by sending over fighter-bombers. The first group bombed Mateur while the second tried to attack tanks and transport vehicles outside the town. The enemy dropped a considerable number of bombs, but all the tanks were safe and only a small truck was set on fire.

RIOTING IN SOFIA

LEADERS REPORTED TO BE SOCIALISTS

(Rec. 7.10 p.m.) LONDON. May 6. Widespread rioting, in which police and soldiers machine-gunned the crowds, raged in Sofia for two days from last Tuesday, says the "Evening Standard’s” Berne correspondent. The death roll is reported to be heavy. Incidents reminiscent of the Dolfuss repression of Austrian Socialists occurred in various parts of the city. Leaders of the disturbance were apparently well-organised Socialists.

PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALANDERS ARRIVE

(Rec. 1.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. Two New Zealand delegates to the Empire Parliamentary Association Conference have arrived in England. Messrs W. P. Endean and L. G. Lowry were selected by the Labour and National Parties as their representatives at the conference.