Current Events May 12, 1943

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, MAY 12, 1943:

The First Army, smashing through the German Cape Bon defense line

in Tunisia, has swept through Soliman, on the north, and Hammamet, on

the south, to occupy Grombalia, half way down the peninsula.

The new advance, which boosted the total of prisoners to more than

100,000, crowded the beaten Axis forces still further toward the beaches

where Allied bombers and the British Navy can finish the job of destruction.

Among the German units which surrendered yesterday was what is left of the

crack Herman Goering Division. That outfit played a key part in rear-guard

actions covering the Cape Bon retreat.

Faced with stiffened resistance in the narrow strip of

the Kuban held by the Germans and Rumanians, the Red Army today devoted

itself to a systematic extermination of the enemy, storming trench by trench in bitter

fighting.

Allied medium bombers smashed the vital Jap

air base at Babo, New Guinea, yesterday in a night attack which left 20 fires on the

airdrome and wharf areas of the base, today's official communique reports.

STARS AND STRIPES

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

New York, N.Y.—London, England Wednesday, May 12, 1943

Allied Troops Half Way Down Peninsula

Resistance Crumbles

As Toll of Prisoners

Goes Above 100,000

First Army Smashes Cape Bon Defense Line;

Air Assault Thwarting a 'Dunkirk';

U.S. Second Corps Mopping Up

The First Army, smashing through the German Cape Bon defense line

in Tunisia, has swept through Soliman, on the north, and Hammamet, on

the south, to occupy Grombalia, half way down the peninsula.

The new advance, which boosted the total of prisoners to more than

100,000, crowded the beaten Axis forces still further toward the beaches

where Allied bombers and the British Navy can finish the job of destruction.

At least 20,000 prisoners had been taken in the neck of the Cape Bon

peninsula, Allied headquarters said last night.

Resistance on the Cape itself was dwindling to only sporadic fire from

occasional units. The spirit of the fleeing troops has been broken and they

are incapable of making a stand, reports from the front said.

3,000 Airmen Captured

Prisoners were coming in so fast they couldn't be counted. Among them were

3,000 members of the Luftwaffe.

Goering Division Surrenders

Among the German units which surrendered yesterday was what is left of the

crack Herman Goering Division. That outfit played a key part in rear-guard

actions covering the Cape Bon retreat.

Yesterday they surrendered, unable to stand up against the ceaseless bombing

and the fierce ground attacks to which they were being subjected.

Fierce fighting still was going on around the southern resistance center near

Zaghpuan and north of Enfidavil'e.

Two American Captives

Capture Their Captors

TUNIS, May 11 (UP)—Two disconsolate American soldiers were

being marched through Tunis on their way to art Italian prison camp Friday

when the first British tanks rolled into the town.

Their German guards took one hurried look at the British tanks,

handed over their Mausers, and said: "All right. Now we are your

prisoners."

Bitter Fighting

On Kuban Line

Reds Storming Trenches

As Nazi Resistance

Grows Stronger

MOSCOW, May 11 (AP)—Faced with stiffened resistance in the narrow strip of

the Kuban held by the Germans and Rumanians, the Red Army today devoted

itself to a systematic extermination of the enemy, storming trench by trench in bitter

fighting.

Heavy Damage

On Jap Air Base

20 Fires Left Burning In

'Successful Attack'

At Babo

WASHINGTON, May 11—Allied medium bombers smashed the vital Jap

air base at Babo, New Guinea, yesterday in a night attack which left 20 fires on the

airdrome and wharf areas of the base, today's official communique reports.

"Widespread destruction and damage" was inflicted in the "successful attack,"

the communique said.

Three Jap planes on the ground were destroyed. Dispersal bays filled with

enemy planes were heavily strafed. Hits were scored in the oil-tank area along the

waterfront, leaving fires visible 80 miles away.

Dauntless dive-bombers and Avenger torpedo-bombers, escorted by Corsair,

Wildcat and Lightning fighters, from Guadalcanal attacked Jap installations at

Munda, New Georgia Island, Central Solomons. Hits were scored on enemy

AA positions and several fires were started.

U.S.PIanes Attack in Indo-China

WITH 14TH U.S. AIR FORCE, China,

May 9 (delayed) (AP)—In two days of strafing sweeps over the Hanoi-Haiphong

area of Indo-China, U.S. fighter pilots blew up seven Jap locomotives and sank

or badly damaged four boats on the Red River.

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