DRIVE FOR COAST

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24539, 23 March 1943, Page 3

DRIVE FOR COAST

AMERICAN ADVANCE LITTLE RESISTANCE ENEMY STILL RETREATING LONDON, March 21 The British United Press correspondent with the American Army, giving details of the capture of Sened station, says the Allies yesterday captured the heights dominating the Sened gap. The attackers expected resistance, but after negligible small arms fire Italians appeared waving handkerchiefs. The Berlin radio said: "In central and south-east Tunisia, parts of the Eighth !Army and parts of the Ist American Tank Division have begun movements which are considered to be a largescale attempt to carry Rommel's positions. Considerable detachments of the Ist American Tank Division last evening began an easterly movement from the Gafsa area. A British force consisting of 50 tanks and 2000 motorised units simultaneously started a north-easterly movement toward the coast from the direction of Ksar Rhilane.' Progress toward Mabnassy "In the Gafsa sector Allied forces yesterday continued their pressure on the enemy, who is still withdrawing," states the North Africa communique. "We took some prisoners and made progress toward Maknassv, about 70 mile 3 east-norih-east of Gafsa and about half-way on the road and railway to Mahares, on the Gulf of Gabes, "Yesterday bombers and fighterbombers of the Western Desert air force maintained attacks in strength on enemy positions in the Mareth area. Many hits wore seen on the targets and fires were started. During fighter sweeps in this area one enemy fighter was destroyed. "Enemy landing grounds were bombed during Friday night. Yesterday the enemy airfield between Gabes and sfax was attacked twice and bombs were seen to burst over the field, on which there were a number of enemy aircraft. During offensive sweeps over the central and northern sectors of the front our fighters made low-level attacks on enemy vehicles, troops and gun positions. Attack on Enemy Convoy "Between Sicily and Tunisia an enemy convoy was attacked by Mitchell bombers, one vessel being left on tire. A large number of epemy aircraft were encountered and 11 wore destroyed by Lightnings escorting our bombers._ r rorrt all these operations five of our aircratt are missing." According to the Middle hast air communique, during an attack on Tripoli on Friday night at least four Junkers 88 were destroyed by anti-air-craft defences. . Allied heavy bombers attacked Naples to-night without loss to themselves. Bombs were dropped near railway goods yards, on the harbour and in the city itself. Aircraft from Malta have destroyed or damaged 105 locomotives mostly o\et Sicily and Southern Italy in the two and a-half months since the beginning of the year. PRISONERS EXCHANGED [ADMIRAL COWAN IN PARTY LONDON, March 22 The exchange of 860 British Avar prisoners for a similar number of Italians and Germans was completed in the Turkish harbour of Mersin last night. An earlier, message said British prisoners to be exchanged included Admiral Sir Walter Cowan, who was taken prisoner just before Tobruk fell last year. Italian and German prisoners on the. British ship Talma, bound for Mersin, Turkey, to be exchanged for other Prisoners, had a narrow escape in the Mediterranean on Friday, when an Italian bomber dropped a stick ol bombs alongside the ship. The captain of the vessel sent a wirokss message to the Italian authorities asking them to call off the bomber. Soon afterward the plane ceased to attack. The Talma and the Italian ship Gradisca wcro anchored in Mersin harbour yesterday, but the exchange of Prisoners was postponed until to-day bemuse of bad weather. After having fought in eight wars °nd alter 10% oars' retirement, Admiral Cowan volunteered for special service a; Tobruk, saying: "At 70 I ,ra Ht to die on the battlefield." He arrived at Tobruk in the middle of its hottest period of defence, visited the defence posts regularly, ignoring |">mbx, shells and raiding pnrties. The ' N «vv nicknamed him "Tich" (after tho once-J anions comedian. Little but the Tobruk garrison reB 'cknamed him "The Little Admiral."