PATROL CLASHES IN TUNISIA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23800, 20 November 1942, Page 5

PATROL CLASHES IN TUNISIA

Gains by Allied Paratroops TRIPLE ADVANCE REPORTED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rcc. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 19. Advanced elements of the British Ist Army are reported to have entered Tunisia at several points, clashing with Axis patrols and beating them back. With the Ist Army are British and American paratroops and French forces. The paratroops ahead of the main body have occupied several strategic places. A British paratroop regiment captured an aerodrome of vital importance. It is stated to have moved on to other points. The "Manchester Guardian’’ says: "The Allied thrust in the Tunis and Bizerte area is progressing along the railway from Tabarca _(a ccastal town near the Algerian border) with a twin thrust along the more inland railway, which runs from Algeria and joins the Tabarca-Bizerte railway 30 miles south of Bizerte at Mateur. The other main objectives of the Allied forces are believed to be Sfax and Gabes, against w'hich an Allied column advancing from Tcbessa has passed through Gafsa, 35 miles nerth-east of Tozeur. One branch of this column is following the railway from Gafsa to Sfax, and the ether branch is going south-east towards Gabes.” One correspondent speaks of attacks by land, sea and air in a fluid advance on a front extending from the coast to the area far to the south. The Axis radio says a threepronged attack is being made, with one prong moving along the coast, another along the valley leading to Tunis, and a third further south along the escarpment. More Axis troops arc said to be pouring into Tunisia. Correspondents’ dispatches still do not reveal the strength and depth of the Allied penetration in Tunisia. British paratroops dropped deep in Tunisia on Monday have contacted the enemy and it is believed that they have now captured a second aerodrome. French troops warmly received the American troops who were dropped on an aerodrome near the Algerian and Tunisian border. French troops in Tunisia, who have been opposing the At:is forces, are reported to be making a fighting withdrawal westwards under orders to join the British Ist Army advancing from Algeria. Reports reaching Allied headquarters state that thousands of French North African soldiers have joined the Americans, who are marching from Morocco, f-cm the Oran area and from other pbints in Algeria to Tunisia. “The arrival of the paratroops has had a heartening effect on the French

garrisons, with whom they expect to join up.” stales the correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency in Algiers. "Our skytroops came from the original parachute battalion, and they included men from 67 different regiments. The majority of them are Londoners.” Allied Communique Wednesday's communique from Allied force headquarters in North Africa, after reporting that Axis scouting parties have been engaged, states: "General Giraud is visiting leading French units. French anti-aircraft five yesterday shot down one enemy aeroplane. German transport a«roplanes attempting to land on a point on the Tunisian coast were driven off by French parties. The French authorities in North Africa have issued a general mobilisation order for the class of 1939. At Oran, French tioops leaving for the East were accompanied to the train by an escort of honour and music from the United States forces there, “Royal Air Force bombers have attacked enemy-occupied objectives in Tunisia, United States aeroplanes cooperating with the Ist Army and the Royal Air Force have made daylight raids on airfields at Bizerte. Eleven enemy aircraft are known to have been destroyed in the course of attacks on Sunday. Monday, and Tuesday in the Rone area, five being shot down by the Royal Air Force and six by antiaircraft fire. Three of our fighters were lost, but two of the pilots are safe. “The hunt for submarines by the Royal Navy, naval aircraft, and the Royal Air Force continues with considerable success.” The Allied air assault in Tunisia continues. Reporting air activity over Tunisia to-day’s Cairo communique says that in a raid on the Tunis aerodrome explosions and fires were caused. Flying Fortresses attacked the Bizerte naval base, set fire to petrol and ammunition dumps, destroyed several aeroplanes on the ground and a Messerschmitt in aerial combat. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered over the airfield at Bizerte. The Germans are said to have packed the Bizerte and Tunis aerodromes with swarms of dive-bombers. Axis aircraft have boon active along the Algerian coast, The Paris radio states; “French colonial troops, co-operating with the Axis in resistance to the Allied advance in Tunisia, have already clashed with the enemy in the south.” Situation in Occupied Areas The flags of Great Britain, the United States and France are now flying together ever Allied headquarters at Algiers. “France’s friendship with the noble American nation will emerge strengthened from the present trials," said General Nogucs, in addressing the Sultan of Morocco, when presenting Major-General G. S. Patton, who brought a goodwill message from Mr Roosevelt. General Nogues also passed on a goodwill message from Marshal Petain and Admiral Darlan to the Sultan. General Nogucs said French Morocco would collaborate with the United States Army with all its forces to achieve a final result as speedily as possible. General Patton said the limitations on normal life in Morocco would be confined to those necessary for the fulfilment of his mission—to cross Morocco and strike at the Axis forces wherever they were found. The Vichy radio announced that because of the interruption of sea traffic between France and North Africa considerable reductions in France's food supplies are inevitable. Morocco had agreed to send France 153.000 tons of dried vegetables and 136,000 tons of seed. Algeria had promised large quantities of wine.