DOGGED AMERICANS Several Powerful Thrusts

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 190, 8 May 1943, Page 5

DOGGED AMERICANS Several Powerful Thrusts

(British Official Wireless.) (Received May 7, 7 p.m.) RUGBY. May 0. Describing the American forces’ advance during yesterday, a correspondent says that the strength of the push evidently caught the enemy by surprise. The enemy did everything they could to hold them up# but the Americans moved on slowly but solidly. ' Their forces moving eastward along the road from Mateur and turning southward to Jedeida, advanced only a few miles in the morning, when the enemy sent about 30 tanks to meet them. The enemy was supported by anti-tank guns hidden in the ridges overlooking the road, but the American tanks, in swift battles, knocked out seven of the 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 toward Bizerta met with increased opposition. The enemy used the guns at Ferryville to shell the roads approaching the port. American reconnaissance units, however, moved along the road to within less than 10 miles of the port. Battle of “Ashcan.”

The Americans advancing on the northern side of Lake Achkel also continued to make ground, but the enemy was able to shell the roads and also held positions in hills from which he was able to use machineguns and mortars. The Americans yesterday were only 12 miles from Bizerta.

A huge rock standing at the -western end of Lake Achkel proved a tough nut to crack. Named Jebel Achkel and christened by the doughboys “The Ashcan,” it has very steep sides, into which, the enemy had dug caves for machinegun and mortar posts, and from this high feature the enemy wns also able to observe all the American movements on both sides of the lake.When the Americans attacked it first early yesterday morning they were Jjeld up by the enemy •firing down, and 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 the guns into position, but the Americans' were firing from 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, enemy guns were shelling Mateur and bursts of shells fron/American guns could be seen in Ferryville across the lake. The enemy tried to hold up the Americans by sending over fighterbombers ; the first group bombed Mateur. ■while the second tried to attack tanks and transport vehicles outside the town. The enemy dropped many bombs, but after the dust had cleared it was seen that all the tanks were safe and only a small truck was on fire.