Show NAZIS CONTINUE RETREAT IN SOUTH TUNISIA Yank Fliers Win Mediterranean Tangle With Axis ALLIED HEADQUARTERS North Africa March 9 UP UP- UP Marshal Erwin Envin Rommel is continuing continuing con con- continuing his retreat after abandoning abandoning aban aban- 50 tanks to the British Eighth army and American pilots have won a big air battle over the Mediterranean in which the axis lost 19 planes against I I none for the U United a nit i t e d States forces ee The pressure of the Eighth f army's veterans at mobile warfare In the desert was pushing Rommel relentlessly back toward his hia Mareth Mareth Ma- Ma MaI j I I reth line positions Over the week weekend weekend weekend end he sallied out and attempted to throw the forthcoming offensive offensive offen oUen- sive of the Eighth army off balance balance bal hal ance by quick thrusts thrusts six six on Saturday Saturday Saturday Sat Sat- alone alone at at their lines On Sea Sweep S I Flying Fortresses and P 38 ings ran into the air battle Monday during a a sea sweep between between be be- tween Tunis and Tripoli Fifty axis planes challenged the Americans Amen Ameri cans and in the brisk battle that I f followed 17 enemy planes were shot down The axis' axis total loss Joss In the engagement rose to 19 when two of their own own planes collided during the fighting and crashed The allies appeared to be winning winning win win- winning ning mastery of the air airall all along the Tunisian front A total of 21 enemy planes were destroyed Monday against an allied loss of only two In the battle over the Mediterranean Mediterranean the Flying Fortresses accounted accounted accounted ac- ac counted for 10 of the enemy planes shot down and the got seven On the northern front the axis I I made a jab Monday at the allied t line Une near Tamera seven miles west of Sed but th the assault was repulsed and as the Germans retreated they left prisoners in allied d hands French Capture Town The German controlled radio radic Vichy said axis forces occupied L C Cape pe Serrat in the north Monday and continuing their advance seized an important chain of hills huh I which control strategic roads Fre Fren h forces moving along the northwestern edge of Chott I salt saIt lake Jake central in Tunisia Tu Tu- Tunisia nisia captured the town of Rommel's strategy now appe ap ap- pe red to be to try ry to get to-get get his army into the high ground around Hal Hal- louf at the southwest end of th the Mareth line Une before he loses Joses any ther r 1 more of his dwindling armor to tc I. I the Eighth ann army Among the 50 I tanks seized by the British were eight new Mark III types carryIng carry carry- ing 77 mm guns The other tanks tank I were three Mark Us two Mark Ills of the old type 19 Mark II III specials and 18 Mark IV specials |