IN TUNISIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 41, 27 November 1942, Page 3

IN TUNISIA

STRONG OPPOSITION EXPECTED. \ ALLIES PREPARING THOROUGHLY FRENCH TROOPS MOVING. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright). LONDON, November 26. In Tunisia tho British Ist Army is reported to be making satisfactory progress in the eastern forward area/Uncfficial reports say that one Allied force, is within 25 miles of Tunis,'-and another is advancing toward Bizerta.

General Anderson is said to he on the point of launching a large-scale -offensive against Tunis and Bizerta, according to the Moroccan radio, but official sources in North Africa are still reticent. Correspondents at Allied Headquarters continue to emphasise the secrecy imposed on them in reference to movements of the British Ist Armv and the American forces.

“General Eisenhower, with his characteristic thoroughness, is planning everything to the last detail,” says one correspondent. “Nothing lias been left to chance. Tho stakes are too great for that.”

The “Daily Mail,” in a leading article, says: “It has become clear that there will be no Allied walk-over in Tunisia. Warnings given here and elsewhere that we would not turn back the Axis without a hard struggle ars being justified. General Anderson’s advance must he conditioned by the rap-idly-growing but not unexpected opposition from the Germans.” “The intention of the Germans to sacrifice even Tripoli, and to concentrate all their strength to hold the Tunisian peninsula, is daily becoming more evident,” says the special correspondent -of the “Daily Mail” at Madrid. “Reports from- Algiers indicate that the Germans are piling up fighters and bombers inside the fortified zoqie. at Bizerta and Tunis in their determination to .secure total air supremacy over Tunisia. “Axis military commentators state that it! is impossible to seal the Sicilian channel from Tripoli, but quite possible to clot so from Bizerta. If Germany maintains her hold on Tunisia the Axis will for the first time have completely divided the Mediterranean into two zones.

“A Berlin dispatch received in Madrid says the vital theatre, of operations lias shifted from Libya to Tunisia.”

Rep-ofrts of Fighting.

The Moscow radio says that French troops in Tunisia are fanning out southwards to intercept Axis units attempting to cross from Tripolitania into Tunisia.

The Moroccan radio said yesterday that fighting on a big scale was imminent in Tunisia. It added that a German column was thrown hack 28 miles south of Tunis, and that LieutenantGeneral K. Anderson was about to launch a large-scale -offensive. The Germans are getting reinforcements, including tanks, troops, and aircraft. Correspondents! state that although the Allies are keeping quiet, it does not mean they are doing nothing—they are doing plenty. The German radio says the strengthening of the German and Italian forces ill-Tunisia is proceeding rapidly. The reinforcements include air units, tanks, assault guns, ■ and mechanised units which can operate over a largo area. Allied Air Successes. To-day’s Cairo communique reports a heavy -raid by Allied aircraft on Bizertaj where hits ivere observed on the waterfront area. lii a raid on an aerodrome in Sicily, hits were scored on buildings. There was some air activity near Malta, hut no enemy aircraft crossed the coast. From all operations (including Libya) two- Allied aircraft are missing. Other reports say the main task -of the Allied air forces is to check the transport of Axis reinforcements by air and sea.

Lightning fighters, celebrated their arrival in Tunisia by shooting down 14 Axis planes without ]oss to themselves. These are single-seater fighters with twin engines and a double fuselage. Seven of the aircraft shot down were Italian transport planes. Admiral Darlan’s Position. The Madrid correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says: “Admiral Darlan is anxious to send to London a mission composed of high-ranking staff officers to- discuss the North African situation, to give reasons for his past actions, and to /explain future plans. Admiral Darlan hopes that the delegates will then go on to Washington to discuss lease-lend with the purpose .of building up a large French colonial army and food supplies for the North African population.” The Dakar radio says the French Governor-General of West Africa (M. Boisson) has received messages o\ loyalty *to the French authorities in Noitli Africa from the Governors of Dakar, French Guinea, the Ivory Coast and the French Sudan. The Paris radio says a United States military mission, with Fighting French representatives, arrived at Dakar and took control of the port, warships in the harbour, and the coastal defences. The United States War Department lias announced that Brigadier-General A. S. A. Duncan, chief of the United 'States Air Staff for the European theatre of operations, has been missing for eight days. General Duncan’s plane disappeared off the north coast of France on route from England to North A f rich.

The Vichy Admiralty provisionally lists 12 warships as put out of action at. Casablanca. It mentions the battleship Jean Bart, the cruiser Primaiiguet, and four destroyers, two torpedoboats and four submarines. In addition, three torpedo-boats were beached and one was sunk at Oran. Personnel losses are given as 49 officers and 450 ratings killed, and .‘l9 officers and 641 ratings wounded.