Tunisian Port Blasted

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1943, Page 7

Tunisian Port Blasted

LONDON, January, 30. Allied aircraft are increasing the weight and frequency of their attacks on Mediterranean supply ports in North Africa. The high spot yesterday was a terrific raid on Sfax,; on the east coast of Tunisia. The raid was made by the heaviest American bomber force ever assembled in North Africa. The whole raid was concentrated into 30 minutes. The raid was.madein four waves. First a great force of Fortresses flew over the targets, dropping heavy.bombs on the docks and starting big fires. They were followed by two waves of Mitchells, dropping bombs at intervals of 50 feet along the railway line. Then came i force of Marauders., which swept over the harbour, dropping bombs on enemy shipping and scoring direct hits on warehouses. Heavy damage is admitted hy the Italians. Sfax, as the main target, may be significant, for this port is one of Eommel's chief supply bases.if he tries to stop on the Mareth Line. One enemy report today says this is: Kommel's intention. ,

In spite of the Axis assertions that the Allies' are opening large-scale movements in Tunisia, Reuters correspondent with the First Army says that the fighting on the central front has again died down to routine patrolling, with' Allies consolidating gains in hills in the Bou Arada-Po'nt dv Fahs-Ousseltia triangle. The ,weather is still dictating the extent of the operations, and- even small-scale movements are very difficult in the north and centre and ■ practically impossible in the south, where the roads are mere trails. Nevertheless, a slight improvement in the weather has enabled our planes to resume a high intensity of strafing of the enemy's lines of communication. The reported American push towards the rear of the Mareth line underlines the fact that yon Arnim arid Rommel have riot?only to calculate the strength of the Eighth Army's push, but also, to reckon with the possibility of the Axis' armies being cut off, or, at any rate, severely restricted, if they are,forced to retreat much farther from the Tunisian border. Algiers radio reports that, American troops have reached the railway town of Maknassi. This attack threatens not only the rear of the Mareth Line, but also Bommel's chances of joining his main forces with the army in the north. Algiers radio also reports great ac-. tivity by British troops in northern Tunisia. ■