The Portsmouth Herald
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 1943
British Fighters Sweep On;
Capture Oudref, Sedjenane
Swift Pursuit Takes Place
Despite New Nazi Defenses
Airdrome Near Sfax
Hit By Allied Planes
Allied Headquarters in North Africa, March 31 (AP)
The British Eighth army has captured Oudref, 12 miles
north of Gabes and directly in the Gabes gap, and the
British First army in the north has taken Sedjenane, an
Allied headquarters communique announced today.
The sweep of Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery's forces
in chasing Marshal Erwin Rommel northward also took
Metouia, eight miles north of Gabes, in its net.
The pursuit was taking place, the communique said,
despite the hastily erected defenses that had been encountered.
The Americans of Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr., battering their way
eastward into Rommel's flank from their Gafsa base, continued their
advance through minefields, the communique announced.
Prisoners were taken in the smash through Gen. Jurgen von Arnim's
northern positions.
The recapture of Sedjenane marked up an advance of nearly 14 miles
for the British from Djebel Abiod. Sedjenane is only about 35 miles from
Bizerte, the Tunisian naval base.
Allied air power continued to be exerted strongly, the communique
said—following up the announcement of the British and American
air forces yesterday that it would follow "non-stop annihilation tactics"
once Marshal Rommel's lines break
Light bombers, fighters and fighter-bombers continuously attacked
concentrations of Rommel's troops and vehicles and
made a severe attack on La Fau-connerie airfield in Patton's
Maknassy sector, the communique said.
Light and medium bombers from the desert air force also
made a heavy attack on El Maou airdrome to the north near Sfav.
Night bombers were reported particularly active in the North where
they attacked enemy defense positions.
THE STARS AND STRIPES
Daily Newspaper of U.S. Armed Forces in the European Theater of Operations
London, England Wednesday, March 31, 1943
Twin Night Raids
By RAF Batter
Berlin and Ruhr
Double Force Loses 33;
Fires Are Started in
Reich Capital
Germany's anti-aircraft defenses, already strained by repeated heavy blows
from American and RAF bombers, face a new threat—twin rajds, in force, at
widely separated objectives.
The new technique, made possible by the growing strength of the Allied air
forces, was demonstrated Monday night when one heavy force of RAF and
Empire bombers dumped tons of high explosives on Berlin—while another large
force lashed at the important railway junction town of Bochum and other
objectives in the industrial Ruhr.
Soviets Smash
German Attacks
Along Donetz
Heavy Fighting Flares
On Three Sectors
Of Front
MOSCOW, Mar. 30 (UP)—Renewed activity sprang up in three main sectors
of the Russian front today. At the same time, Russian troops broke three attacks
a: different points on the Severny-Donetz and forced the Germans to retire after
inflicting heavy losses.
Heavy lighting for the river crossings along the middle course of the Severny-
Donetz, where the main bridgeheads are littered with German corpses, is still continuing.
Denmark Scene
Of New Revolt
Danes Join in Resistance;
Yugoslav Guerrillas
Increase Forays
Danish workers were reported yesterday to have joined the growing wave of
resistance and sabotage sweeping German- controlled Europe, while in Yugoslavia
guerrilla warfare grew to such a pitch -that the Axis was reported rushing
fresh reinforcements for the five divisions now tied down there.
In Denmark, a machine shop was bombed in Copenhagen Mar. 10: a factory
making uniforms for the German army was-set afire by five men Mar. 21
U.S. Trucks Bucking Mud
All Along Russian Front
MOSCOW, Mar. 30 (AP)—American motorized equipment is receiving its
severest test of the war in the mess of mud and slush which the whole Russian front
is becoming. Last year some American jeeps were
used in the spring fighting, but there were few heavy American trucks in action on
the Russian front. Now 50,000 trucks and 20,000 jeeps are in use. Russian
Generals frankly admit that American equipment bore the main burden in the
offensive southwest of Stalingrad, on the Don and in the Ukraine.
Russian drivers say the American trucks will " go everywhere—so far," and that
even if they are "foreigners" they are making themselves at home here."
U.S. Plane Hits
Jap Destroyer
ALLIED HQ. Southwest Pacific, Mar. 30—After destroying five to seven Jap
seaplanes in a low-level attack on an enemy base in the Shortland Islands.
Lockheed Lightnings and Corsair fighters in a. strafing attack set on fire a Jap
destroyer on the way home, today's official communique reports.
Three feet of one of the attacking planes wings were sheared off by the
destroyer's mast.
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