THE STARS and STRIPES
London, England Saturday, Feb. 27, 1943
Panzers in Full Retreat Beyond Pass
AlliedTanks,
Planes Blast
Fleeing Foe
8th Army Pilots Also ffit
Columns Withdrawing
Toward Gafsa
ALLIED HQ, North Africa, Feb. 26 (AP)—Pursued by Allied ground
and air forces, Rommel's panzers appeared in full retreat in southern
Tunisia today. American and British infantry and Etrmored formations
snatched the initiative by recapturing the vital Kasserine Pass.
Tommies and doughboys drove up the mountains on each side of the
pass yesterday afternoon, driving the Germans into the foothills beyond and allowing
the British and American tanks through the gap on the heels of Rommel's
withdrawing forces.
By day and night American and British bombers and fighters poured destruction
on panzer columns moving southward towards Gafsa.
Bisleys raided Gafsa and Sbeitla, giving the Germans no rest. Pilots reported
large fixes in both places. The Middle East air forces were working in
close cooperation all the time, giving a hand in chasing Rommel.
Engineers Remove Mines
Stiff Resistance
Slows Russians
In Donetz Basin
Weather Hinders Drives
As Well, But More
Villages Are Taken
MOSCOW, Feb. 26 (UP)—With heavy air and land reinforcements, the Germans
have forced slower Russian progress on
the fronts' west of Kharkov and near Orel, and are making a determined bid
to send their tanks and motorized forces behind the Red Army's lines in the
Donetz Basin.
Here furious battles are raging, particularly
between Kramatorskaya and Krasnparmeisk, where the Germans are
attacking in great force to try and restore the strategic communications of the area.
In spite of this greatly increased resistance, however, the Russians are continuing
to push on even though progress is slower.
The weather is no longer on the side of the Russians. The Donetz fighting
areas are a morass, roads are quagmires, without any snow.
Yanks Took Pass Without a Shot
After 155s Finished Their Job
By Philip Ault
United Press War Correspondent
WITH UNITED STATES FORCES,
Kasserine Pass, Feb. 25 (delayed)—
United States troops occupied the Kasserine Pass this morning without firing a
shot, after shelling it all night. The German artillery withdrew during the night,
leaving heavy minefields to delay the
pursuit.
The Germans are also believed to have left the town of Kasserine and withdrawn
their main forces'.from the Gafsa area. American 155-mm. guns—called into
action on this front for the first time—fired into the pass for hours during the
night. Then, at 6.30 AM, the infantry attacked over the right shoulder of the
pass, but met with no opposition. Next a tank destroyer unit and some medium
tanks crept up the shell-torn road into the pass.
Libs Bomb Italian Ports,
Hit Naples and Crotone
CAIRO, Feb. 26 (AP)—Liberator bombers of the Ninth U.S. Air Force
bombed the harbors of Naples and Crotone in Italy last night, a U.S. communique
said today. " In Naples direct hits were observed
on the docks and in the harbor area generally," it said. " In Crotone bomb
hits were seen in the area of the quay and railroad lines leading to it. Enemy aircraft
were present over Naples, but offered no resistance. All our aircraft
returned safejy to their bases."
FDR Thank
MacArthur For
Pacific Successes
Another Raid on Rabaul
Goes On as President
Lauds Air Attacks
By the United Press
President Roosevelt has sent a message of congratulation and thanks to Gen.
Douglas MacArthur, Allied commander in the southwest Pacific, on the successes
achieved by forces under his command in the southwest Pacific area during the
past few weeks.
The President's message read in part: " The bombardments launched by
your air forces during the past few weeks and especially during the last few days,
in support of the situation in the Solomons and to the furtherance of your
own operations, command our admiration.
Liverpool Club Opened
For US Seamen
Ceremonies Monday Open
Third American Hostel
In British Isles
LIVERPOOL, Feb. 26—American merchant
seamen will be welcomed Monday at opening of their new club here under
auspices of the U.S. War Shipping Administration.
It will 'be " the place where an American sailor can get a cup of real coffee "—as
well as hot meals, clean beds and other comforts.
Seamen present at Monday's ceremony will include survivors of torpedoings who were hospitalized in Liverpool. The club, third in Britain, is in the
former American Red Cross building at 97 Islington. Glasgow and Gourock
already have merchant marine clubs, and a fourth will be opened soon in Cardiff.
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