This Was Reported Today; Current Events April 2, 1943: The British First Army combined with Americans, is forcing Rommel's forces to the sea. A Dunkerque type stand is possible, but under Hitlers orders there will be a fight to the death by the retreating enemy. The Tunisian front was quieter as Americans launched a new, tank-supported, offenses in the area of Maknassy and El-Guetaria Pass. American fighter planes engaged Japanese Zeros and navy destroyers in engagements near Kolombangara. In these Solomon island engagements, six United States planes were lost in the aerial combat, fought northwest of Guadalcanal island, but two of the pilots were rescued. Results of the attack by bombers on the Japanese surface force were not observed, the navy reported also of two more attacks on the Japanese base at Kiska in the Aleutians.

Wisconsin Daily Rapids Tribune

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Friday, April 2, 1943

BRITISH MOVE PAST RECAPTURED SEDJENANE

Report Yanks in

New Assault in

Area of Maknassy

Allied Headquarters in North Africa — (AP) — The British

First army was reported today edging east and north of recaptured

Sedjenane while Americans in the central sector engaged

in some fighting and Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery

maintained pressure upon the new German-Italian lines 24 miles north

of Gabes.

''The Tunisian front was generally quieter yesterday," a communique

announced, indicating a lull in preparation for the next round of the

battle to drive Field Marshal Erwin Rommel into the sea. "Our patrols

were very active over the whole front."

Reports from the front said the

Americans had launched a new attack in the area of Maknassy and

made tank-supported t h r u s t s against axis holdings in the El

Guetaria pass region.

Force Axis Back

ARMY TO OPEN

1ST GLIDER PILOT

COMB AT SCHOOL

Louisville, Ky.—(AP)—The United

States army's first glider pilot combat school will open next week at

the Bowman field army air base herewith the announced aim of training

glider pilots "to become proficient killers."

Hundreds Expected

American Bombers Batter Jap Force of 5 Destroyers

FIGHTER PLANES

SHOOT DOWN 16

JAPANESE ZEROS

Washington. — (AP)— American bombers battered a Japanese force

of five destroyers southwest of Kolombangara while almost at the

same time, fighter planes were engaging 30 to 40 Japanese Zero

fighters and shooting down 16 of the enemy planes, the navy reported

today.

6 U. S. Planes Lost

In these Solomon island engagements, six United States planes

were lost in the aerial combat, fought northwest of Guadalcanal island,

but two of the pilots were rescued.

Results of the attack by bombers on the Japanese surface force were

not observed, the navy reported in communique No. 332 which told

also of two more attacks on the Japanese base at Kiska in the Aleutians.

The text of the communique: "North Pacific: "1 On March 30th:

British Expect Germans to

Fight to Death in Tunisia;

2nd Dunkerque Held Unlikely

BY JAMES M. LONG

London—(AP)—The smashing 100-plane Flying Fortress raid

on Sardinia was interpreted here today as defining the possible

route and probable fate of any axis attempt to duplicate Dunkerque in a

retreat from Tunisia, but unofficial observers suggested it was more

likely the Nazis would fight to the death under orders from Adolf

Hitler to buy more time for defense of the continent,.

Would Follow Hitler's Policy

Despite the cost in men and material, and its effect on the morale

of the German people, such a stand would fit the recent defense-mindedness

displayed by Hitler and his general staff when faced with the

gathering power of the allied onslaught.