Axis Line Covering Tunis And Bizerte

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23802, 23 November 1942, Page 5

Axis Line Covering Tunis And Bizerte

I INTENSE ENEMY • AIR ATTACKS Jl to to r. J • (N.Z, Press Association—Copyright.) \ p ' ni) LONDON, November 22. 5 “In spite of intense Axis air attacks, which are leading to violent air battles, the Allied forces in Tunisia continue to H advance methodically on Bizerte,” reports the correspondent of t| the Associated Press at Allied Headquarters. “Reports from the •I fighting front, although scanty and belated, suggest that clashes «| are becoming more frequent.” °J “After particularly sharp fighting Allied forces captured a *>■ bridge in Tunisia which is the key to a vital crossroads,” states ',B a report from Allied Headquarters. “The French are attacking (I German defensive positions in this locality. The Germans are ;| continually bringing up supplies to an area about 30 miles southt| west of Tunis, under constant harassing by British and Amerii| can aeroplanes.” | The Brazzaville radio reports that Allied units made con.l tact with Axis troops 25 miles south-east of Tunis, probably in I I the Hammamet Oasis. I Though there is still no news of major fighting, the position j of the Axis forces is becoming clearer. They appear to be I I defending a line about 100 miles long, running from the north coast to the Gulf of Hammamet on the east coast, covering the | towns of Bizerte and Tunis, both about 30 miles behind the line. : The Morocco radio reports that a British and American i column captured a railway junction north-west of Gabes. French units in this area took prisoner several German groups. French columns advancing from the south succeeded, after a heavy engagement between Kairouan and Sousse, in encircling an Axis force. The enemy is now reported to have been ordered to discontinue resistance in the southern sector and to proceed to the north. The radio also reports that a German detachment from Tripolitania has crossed the Tunisian frontier in the direction of IGafsa, 30 miles from the Algerian ffrontier, and Kairouan. French troops repelled local attacks west of Tunis and captured four tanks.

"Our medium bombers attacked Bizerte on Friday night, damaging barracks and workshops,” says today’s Cairo communique. “Two German aircraft were destroyed over Tunisia yesterday, and a flak-ship was damaged. “Aerodromes in Sicily were successfully bombed on Thursday night. A vessel of about 2000 tons was bombed, hit amidships, and left on fire off the coast of Tunisia on Friday. It was later attacked by our torpedo aircraft and was left sinking. Another vessel was also attacked, off Cape Bon, and raked with cannon fire. Two Junkers 88’s were shot down in the same area. From all these operations one of our aircraft did not return.” An Allied Headquarters communique received in London on Saturday evening said: “Allied advanced units in Tunisia are maintaining contact with the enemy, and it has now 1 been determined that 11 out of the 30 " v rperman medium tanks used were de-'xtlU-oyed during the engagement on * vember 18. Enemy aircraft made a ! •yai’d on Algiers yesterday evening.” j An agency correspondent at Algiers reports: “Late on Wednesday afternoon paratroops who had been dropped on Monday encountered enemy fighting patrols and succeeded in destroying six armoured vehicles and taking prisoners. The Germans are landing Mark IV tanks at Bizerte, and a few light tanks at Gabes,” Hard Fighting Expected Earlier messages said that all the indications were that the main clash in Tunisia was unlikely to be delayed much longer. Correspondents emphasise that the engagements so far reported were merely preliminary skirmishes, and that much hard _ fighting was expected before the Axis forces were dislodged from the Bizerte and Tunis corner. The Axis positions were still defensive, and not strong enough to enable them to advance across Tunisia, especially with growing French hostility. Both sides were concentrating on getting troops and material into the forward areas. It is now known that the first 50 miles of the British and American advance into Tunisia was made without meeting armed resistance. The rapid building up of Allied air strength in eastern Algeria is believed to have surprised the enemy, who suffered severely in the earlier raids against Bone and Bougie. His bombers have ipore recently been heavily escorted. A further increase in Allied air support is regarded as an important factor in the planning of the Allied advance. A spokesmaff at Allied Headquarters in North Africa said on Friday that the Germans were apparently digging in 30 miles south-west of both Bizerte and Tunis and were making a stand. The situation was confused, but it appeared that almost all the rest of Tunisia was under the control of pro-Allied French garrisons or Under Allied occupation. “German losses in yesterday’s clashes were heavy, but they are pouring in reserves and we are apparently in for considerable fighting,” the spokesman added. Pro-Allied French forces had cap- . tured small German units trying to , push southward along the Gulf of Gabes. The French had also driven off attempts to land air-borne tropps in this area. The French were doing exceedingly well, in spite of great confusion as a result of local commanders’ conflicting orders to surrender to the Germans or to resist. “It is a hell of a mess, but most of the French appear to be resolved to carry on the fight against the Axis. The Germans have been pushing out columns from their newly-formed lines round Tunis and Bizerte, but in every ' clash they have been driven back,” said the spokesman. "The Tunisian campaign may be easier than was expected,” says the British United Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters, "because General Barre’s resistance has upset Axis plans. Reports received led the Germans to believe that the Frenchmen in Tunisia would not fight. They proved wrong. Frenchmen have been and are '< «ftill fighting, and the strength of their (W -’resistance may well prove to be an upfactor’in the Axis plans,” The Morocco radio, which gave the first report of General Barre’s resistance, now says that the Tunisian French forces have issued their first communique, as follows: “The Germans have opened hostilities. French troops, supported by Allied contingents, repulsed several attacks in western Tunisia.” The Vichy radio states it is reported from Tangier that LieutenantGeneral Eisenhower has ordered general mobilisation in the occupied French North African areas. The Berlin radio says that 4000 de Gaullist troops from French Equatorial Africa have landed in North Africa and have begun to march inland. A full and entire amnesty has been granted on the orders of the French North African Commission to all persons who favour the Allied action in Africa. The Sultan of Morocco and General Nogues. former French commander in Morocco, have pledged complete cooperation with the American forces in North Africa.