ADVANCE INTO TUNISIA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23798, 18 November 1942, Page 3

ADVANCE INTO TUNISIA

Progress of Allied Forces NO CONTACT YET WITH ENEMY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11 P-m.) LONDON, Nov. 17. The British Ist Army is still pushing eastwards into Tunisia as fast as possible. This is all that Allied Headquarters have to report on thr Tunisian situation at the moment. It is officially stated that the British Ist Army has been reinforced by mobile American units. The Allied Commander-in-Chicf in North Africa (LieutenantGeneral Dwight D. Eisenhower), in a communique, said it was too soon to talk of fighting at Bizerte, where engagements between Axis and Allied forces were earlier reported by the Morocco radio. He said there had been a clash, but it was between French and German troops. The first military clash between French and Axis troops occurre’d on Sunday, five miles north-west of Tunis, says the Algiers radio, quoting a report from Allied headquarters. A French Guards battalion met a German reconnaissance unit composed of motorcyclists and armoured vehicles, and opened fire, forcing the Germans to retreat. The Rome radio says General Walter Nehring has been appointed command-er-in-chief of the Axis forces in Tunisia. He has issued a proclamation appealing to the French and native ’troops to fight with tne Axis against the common enemy. General Nehring. who is a panzer expert, fought in Russia and with the Afrika Korps. The correspondent of “The Times” at Allied ncauqvarters says the opinion is expressed that the main object of the Axis forces in Tunisia is to hold the ports to enable Marshal Rommel's forces to get cut. of Africa. The United States Consul at Tunis, who travelled Jay a secret route to Allied headquarters, told correspondents that as soon as the French at Tunis knew the Germans were coming they removed as much as possible

of the defences of the port, as well as transport vehicles and petrol. The French population was eagerly awaiting the Allied forces. Rabat radio to-day broadcast a communique from Allied headquarters which states: “The spearhead .of the British troops is advancing with the greatest possible speed towards eastern Tunisia. Forty-two Axis aeroplanes were shot down in aerial combat in Tunisia and 19 were set on 'fire on the ground.” Axis Preparations Morocco radio says Hitler has ordered tfie German forces in Tunisia to hold on at any cost. An Axis communique says both, German and Italian forces have landed in Tunisia, and that the German units are strong c. -ugh to defend their positions. An American correspondent at Algiers reports that the enemy is pouring in air and ground forces as fast as he can. There is no official estimate of the Axis strength in Tunisia, but it is considered certain that the enemy will put in the largest possible force in view of the enormous strategic importance of Tunis and Bizerte. An Italian communique states; “The Italians and Germans nave landed in Tunis with the consent of the French.” “It seems certain that we will see some hard fighting in Tunisia,” says' the military correspondent of “The Times.” "This phase, in which General Anderson’s Ist Army has taken over the chief role, is likely to prove by far the most difficult. “The Germans have evidently made up their minds to fight with all their available strength, and the short-sided triangle bounued by Sicily, Sardinia, and Tunisia favours their air force. It represents short flights for troopcarrying aircraft, which can be effectively covered by fighters. It likewise represents short sea passages. The advantage on land still seems strongly on our side, but it may take General Anderson a little while to bring his heavy forces into action. It must be realised that Bone, the most easterly port we are likely to use at present, is 120 miles west of Bizerte. Provision of Spitfires is also indispensable to General Anderson’s advance.” Allied Air Attacks Air attacks against the Tunis aerodrome are being intensified each day and will be further intensified soon when bombers are able to operate from western Cyrenaica, thus catching the Italians and Germans in Tunisia between two fires. Three raids were made on the Tunis aerodrome on Sunday, the first of them at dusk, when at least six enemy transport machines and bombers were burnt out. A Royal Air Force pilot chased a Heinkel 111 which was forced down in the sea, where it blew up. Two other raids made during the night caused great destruction. Describing Sunday’s three raids on a Tunisian aerodrome, the Air Ministry said all the aircraft returned safely from the two night raids made by the Royal Air Force bombers. So destructive were these raids, according to one participating airman, that: “We came back looking like trucks, loaded with bricks and mortar.” The German radio, talking of the movement of German troop-carrying aircraft to Tunisia, admitted that from time to time the Royal Air Force swbpt down on the Tunis aerodrome and bombed it.