TUNIS AND BIZERTE CAPTURED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23943, 10 May 1943, Page 5

TUNIS AND BIZERTE CAPTURED

Allied Land And Air Assault AXIS REMNANTS PINNED IN THREE SECTORS

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. The capture of Tunis and Bizerte by the Allied forces, after an a ir and land assault in overwhelming strength, is announced in Saturday’s communique from Algiers, which says:— “The Allies continued their successful advance all day yesterday. Armoured elements of the Ist Army entered Tunis at 3.40 p.m., having advanced 23 miles in 36 hours against stiff resistance, including minefields. “Troops from the American 2nd Corps had cleared Ferryville hy 4 p.m. By 4.15 p.m. their forward elements had entered Bizerte. “Many prisoners and much equipment have been captured, but the exact figures are not yet known. The advance continues.” The shattered remnants of the Axis armies in Tunisia are now pinned down in three sectors —those of Bizerte, Tunis, and TunisEnfidaville. The fate of the two Axis groups round Bizerte and Junis, which are completely cut off with their backs to the sea, is merely a question of hours. After the losses they have suffered both these forces are weak. The third enemy group, in the Tunis-Enfidaville sector, still has some liberty of movement, but the Bth Army is closing in on the beaten enemy with growing pressu re, while British armour is milling round the area which the Axis troops must pass before finding respite on Gape Bon. The Germans are now confused and disorderly.

Saturday’s communique adds Hat the French with the Ist Army, hj i successful local attack, caplured Pont du Fahs and also important high ground east of Pont du Fahs. Considerable local activity occurred on the Bth Army front where some prisoners were cap- ; lured. ; Saturday’s press messages from North Africa said that Allied airmail were maintaining pressure on lie enemy, especially along the fthways to the Cape Bon peninsula, The Gulf of Tunis was beta; closely patrolled, and a small ship heading for Sicily was hit and probably sunk. Himman Lif, 10 miles south-east ol Tunis, has been occupied and the Allied troops, pushing forward, lave now reached the northern 1 end of the base of Cape Bon pentala. French forces continue to advance north-east of Pont du Fahs. Chougui, near Tebourba, "as occupied by American infantry, , Further successes are announced by CiitdHeadquarters, according to press gesages. American armour is astride spßizerte-Tunis road, 18 miles southifet of Bizertc. Armoured forces ocjped Ain el Aser, 18 miles south of sais, and also Bir Meherga, a few !'fs tiirther on and about 12 miles th-eeSt of Pont du Fahs. lis now certain that many thoud prisoners '"have been taken—the tber will probably reach five fig--,rt {According to the Tunis corresponjjipt of the “New York Times” one British armoured force pierced a Scgfried position” built by the Nazis ifoss the entrance to the Cape Bon tfinsula. non Arnim is likely to attempt a paying action while he tries to evac-

at least a portion of his beaten says the Algiers radio, .paid an evacuation be attempted, I "ill result in a massacre of the Man forces. The British Fleet and v‘ ! Allied air forces will not allow a J Axis soldier to escape. They . w have to choose between death vjl unconditional surrender, i Germans and Italians are reported 'abe surrendering freely round Tunis §lß«erte. Some of the prisoners are "Wibed as nerve-shattered. They pared that the large numbers of anti-. Iponnel bombs dropped by the Allies |; re particularly demoralising. Two !'Jisand aeroplanes on Friday dropi more than 1,250,0001b of bombs on ! battle areas and on Tunisian harm's and shipping.” Enemy Destroyers Sunk . With complete air mastery over Tu- • r* ,a ' the North-west African Air rces yesterday continued heavy and ! ""Mated attacks against the -roy without effective opposition.” ‘1 “Nay’s Allied communique. ™ ca l Air Force light and I P or ?tbers and fighter-bombers j nt ® nse attacks against roads *BMted with enemy troops, destroy--5 many vehicles and starting numer. iu' 5 ’ Early yesterday we at,cP.emy airfields near Tunis. ’Man on B rou nded aircraft. ..attacks were carried out * fdrL'‘P ping in the Gulf of Tunis i :;l( nis harbour. We sank 14 small i ;ecti^-. 0n hre a destroyer, and Sirot ■ sever al other vessels. ! .ad-oa E l c • r Forco fighter-bombers | ;; s .vb'Pping and dock installato Tunis harbour, .sank three vessels ! 4 l ng t° ns °n Thursday night att i-j u j,J e docks and shipping at Trat ' b ] asccl bombers similarly r For « Boaufighters on ft) destroyed one aeroplane and Sourl -° n Wednesday night. Four » ;s * “fe missing from all opera-

twn a ea * led that on Thursday we .Isrsl ““troyers and damaged two Vf sank ,- tacks against Sicilian ports. a 5 additi vesse^s °f various sizes. Wrovpd ° na l enemy aeroplanes were krlier °J? T hur sday.” »j ed Air Force headin’ Vt; To Africa announced tn troyers . had b«-cn sunk in f i Si,in,„° ne w kich was blown up 'ie su ? n P°i’t. making a total of I 2er ai ? nd two damaged. An ! -'ced th‘? 1( r rs communique an,!icily ii ln a^atk s on Favignana several fu 113 " VO -^ r -Is were sunk r''lye an^ crs kit. A Cairo comi wp ro n j l . lncod 'hat two enemy 1 :ed States d hn CC, i ly hit u ' hcn heav ’y es bombers raided Reggio. Usages sent by smuts I • LOND PN, May K. nn to' ln . a message to Mr i .' eye d Sm.tuA . v . lc!oi ’. v in Tunisia, i Rations U Africa’s heartiest con- : .Sizertp Q , n . b , e capture of Tunis : hinning h( | sa ‘ d - marked s'i Aftie-, 8 110I 10 ond - 'T am proud fl c °®tinup tn °k so ln this blitz - as il fiNfoavV 0 n e to tlle end ’ whereI 5 simn^ 03 y com e.” lie said. I .gS* message to Mr RnoseI; Will n Smuts said: "This feat of t' e Allioa°*Ti kistoric. From now -Mil it , tldc ' of victory will roll *»*otld attj' crs and fertilises our saves it from the new i '