ALLIED FORCES SOON TO MERGE IN TUNISIA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 35, 11 February 1943, Page 5

ALLIED FORCES SOON TO MERGE IN TUNISIA

LEADER CONFIDENT Campaigns Will Become One Operation British Official Wireless Rec. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 10. The enemy's forces have been completely eliminated from Egypt, Cyrenaica, Libya and Tripolitania, and the Eighth Army is still advancing, said General Sir Harold Alexander* Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, addressing war correspondents at Cairo. "The Eighth Army is drawing near General Eisenhower's. The battles of the two campaigns are approaching the stage 'where they must be regarded as one operation."

The enemy could be expected to hang on like grim death to the narrow corridor between Sicily and North Africa, said General Alexander, because he realised the consequences for Europe if we succeeded in driving him out. "Our task of driving the Axis right out of the continent is not going to be easy, but the dice are in our favour. The enemy is making an effort to increase his supplies, but has only a few ports at his disposal.

"The Mareth Line was constructed in the days of horses and foot soldiers. It is strong, but we won't be daunted. When we have complete control of the North African coast it will be possible for our convoys to pass from Gibraltar to the Suez, because we shall be able to give air cover to ward off enemy attacks." General Alexander said he looked forward to the time when the experienced troops of the Eighth Army would be ready for fresh operations against the enemy. Long leave had been granted some troops and a few had gone to Britain. "We hope more will be going soon. It is a good plan to send trained men to train those at home," he remarked. When General Alexander was informed of the presence of the Russian correspondent, he greeted him in perfect Russian. The Allied North African communique says there is nothing to report from the land forces on the Tunisian front. Our fighters attacked various ground targets in forward areas and we bombed the airfield at Kairwan. All our aircraft returned.

The Middle East communique reports a continuation of patrol activities and adds that Palermo was bombed on Monday night and fires started. Our fighters on the same night destroyed two bombers attempting to raid Tripoli. One of our planes is missing from these operations.