| Show 4 14 AXIS VESSELS I SUNK OFF NORTH AFRICA British Beat Back Heavy Nazi Blow in Tunisia By HAROLD V. V BOYLE I ALLIED HEADQUARTERS i IN NORTH AFRICA March 5 UP Allied lP Allied bombers sank four axis vessels from a six-ship six convoy Thursday and shot up German and I Italian t tal a 1 i a an n motor transport in m an aerial accompaniment accompaniment accompaniment to to ground fighting during w which v h hie I c h tank-led tank First army forces repulsed a determined determined determined deter deter- mined attack at Colonel General Jurgen von Arnim's Ar- Ar nims nim's infantry and armored units coveting as a junction on the road drove into the streets of ot the town yn but were forced back after bitter hand- hand to-hand to fighting in which observers ers said they suffered severe losses losse t ton Forty-ton pouring out six-pound six shells at the rate of 25 a minute spearheaded the British tank lank attack Several armored cars were knocked out and heavy losses were inflicted on the German infantry a a. competent military source said The fierce action in the north was accompanied by an intensification cation of activity by Field Marshal Rommel's forces in their Mareth line positions on the southern front and a corresponding increase in allied patrol work Back to Starting Point The issued by allied headquarters said allied forces continued continued continued con con- to consolidate their recent gains in the central sector where Rommel's forces are virtually back to the starting g point of their ill ill- fate February drive 11 nth the central sector the com com- said allied said forces tOn on consolidate their recent gains Elements of French forces yesterday occupied on the western border of the Chott Reconnaissance patrols also were operating farther east On the Mareth line front enemy activity was intensified and our patrols were very active the said Transports Attacked Attacks on enemy transports both on land and on the sea were continued yesterday and during the previous night attacks by our bombers on enemy convoys between between between be be- tween Sicily and Tunisia resulted in four ships being sunk and others damaged the bulletin announced Bombers struck at enemy vehicles vehicles ve ye- hides in both southern and northern northern north north- em ern Tunisia and attacked axis targets targets targets tar tar- gets at 12 miles west of Tunis Two Junkers were sh shot t from froma a escorted forma- forma Continued on Page Pace Five Column One 1 J MOERS SINK TAXIS SHIPS Continued from Pate Pare One Olle III by allied tighten fighters In the north rl tier ther bomber was destroyed on onI 2 Algerian Algerian coast cout and two enemy I were downed in the south south- t Tunisian sector the p ue o e saido said aid 3 o Allied Planes Lost 1 I mmel tommel who left behind an grate rate maze of oC mines and booby to protect his hla withdrawal V Id aid pass apparently was wu cond con- con aced ed d that the British-American British jM t army anny was In no shape for mediate attack on his lank flank buse ause of losses suffered In the J tt phase of his drive e reappearance of his armored Ie cis Ces in the Mareth area was fen f C n as an indication however the was worried over the pos pos- j 1 Iffy ty that the Eighth army anny launch its expected offend offen- offen d at t any moment il ted Bases nase Attacked t and Philippeville allied allied- ports were reported packed by Italian plan plants planes s while led rid bombers loosed some i es es S. S on Naples Salerno and San aliano fano causing slight damage said It reported persons were killed and 10 ined ined in- in fed ed at San Vitaliano Vitallano Dispatches from rom Cairo said sald sald al al al- al were subjecting axis in the Mareth line to a ting assault in apparent for Cor scale large land ti lion Uon Allied fighter bombers r reported to have attacked tor transport near in country behind the cen- cen il sector of the line and blasted and buildings on the coast- coast road near Gabes l rr Wench forces Corces moving In from Crom est west meanwhile were re- re feeling out the enemy's in the vicinity of the ott salt marshes behind line |
