This Was Today; Current Events April 1, 1943; The fighting in North Africa continues as the British Eighth and Fifth Armies push Rommel to the sea. Predictions of Rommel's defeat could allow for an invasion of Europe early this year. Daylight raids continue in Holland as U. S, Flying Fortresses drop bombs on shipyard facilities in Rotterdam. Heavy ack-ack fire accounted forAllied losses. Japanese convoys have been stopped by allied bombers as attempts were made to re-supply bases in Kavieng on New Britian, Finchafen, and other bases on New Guinea. Pilot skills are demonstrated in rescue operations on New Guinea.

            THE STARS AND STRIPES

Daily Newspaper of U.S. Armed Forces in the European Theater of Operations

                              London, England Thursday, April 1, 1943

Enemy Retreating Draws In Its Flank

8th and 5tin

Armies Push

For junction

Rommel Doomed, Europe

Invasion Near, Says

U.S. Spokesman

Hammered continuously by land, ,

air and sea, Axis forces retreated along the coast road towards Sfax, 70

miles north of Gabes, yesterday as the Eighth Army swept through two

more towns, Oudref and Metoui. Simultaneously American and

French troops made important gains in the Gafsa and Kairouan sectors,

and there were indications that Rommel was drawing in his flank forces

to join the main stream of retreat to the north.

In the extreme north British troops recaptured Sedjenane in the Armlo-

American First Army's drive toward Mateur and the extreme tip of Tunisia,

where Rommel must fight or attempt an Africa Dunkirk.

In Washington Elmer Davis, director of the 'Office of War Information, predicted

Rommel would be defeated " in time to permit an Allied invasion of

Europe this year."

                                              Junction Is Imminent

Fortresses Raid

Rotterdam, Hit

Nazi Shipyards

Ack Ack Heavy, Fighters

Make "Weak Attacks;

One Bomber Lost

Flying Fortresses bomb shipbuilding and ship repair yards at Rotterdam,

Holland, in daylight raid yesterday. It was the third raid on the vital target, site of the

huge Wilton shipyards, major building and repair facility 'for enemy surface craft.

Intense and very accurate anti-aircraft fire was experienced over the target area,

but fighter opposition was light, returning pilots reported. One bomber failed to

return, Eighth Air Force Headquarters announced.

Bombers Stop

Enemy Convoy

To New Guinea

One Destroyer Probably

Sunk as Allies Force

Japs to Retire

ALLIED HQ, Southwest Pacific,

Mar. 31 (UP)—A third Japanese convoy attempting to land supplies in New

Guinea has been forced to retire after being attacked by heavy Allied bombers,

according to today's official communique.

The convoy, which comprised four destroyers, was first sighted southwest of

Kavieng, but bad weather conditions held up the attack until it was only five miles

from Finschafen, the important Japanese base on the Huon Gulf.

Reports received so far show that one destroyer has probably been sunk off

Finschafen.

Gasmata Blasted

Gasmata, strong Jap base on the south coast of New Britain, was attacked by

Allied heavy bombers yesterday, which dumped 1,000-lb. bombs on the airdrome

and strafed runways and installations nearby.

While shadowing enemy shipping off the south coast of New Britain, an Allied

heavy reconnaissance plane was attacked on three different occasions by formations

up to nine enemy fighters.

This plane completed its mission and returned safely after knocking out four

enemy planes. Heavy bombers attacked enemy coastal

bases at Cape Orford, and Ubili, New Britain.

Rescue Planes

Hold Off Foe

U.S. Pilot Saves Another

From Beneath Japs'

Noses in Jungle

NEW DELHI, Mar. 31 (AP)—An

American pilot forced down in northern Burma was rescued from under the noses

of a group of savagely determined Japanese in one of the most thrilling

rescue dramas of the war on Monday, it was disclosed today.

The pilot, Lt. Melvin Kimball, of Durham, N.H., was saved from almost

certain capture by the daring and skill of other American pilots after he was

forced down by engine trouble in an old trainer he was flying alone from China

to India.

Kimball was forced down near Japanese headquarters in northern

Burma. Luck, was with him, for an American pilot saw him before the Japs

did. Capt. Charles H. Colwell, returning in an American fighter after a strafing

mission over Japanese-occupied Burma, spotted Kimball's plane sitting on the

ground, obviously intact but unable to fly.

Colwell himself had five holes in his plane and should have kept going home

if he had been the kind of a guy who thought of his own skin first. Instead

he called the home base in Assam immediately on the wireless.

Attempt Rescue

The home base told Colwell to hang around the spot to mark it for fighters,

which were sent at once. So Colwell hung around, doing great circles overhead,

until help arrived.