“HARD FIGHTING AHEAD”

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23804, 25 November 1942, Page 3

“HARD FIGHTING AHEAD”

Tunisia Campaign VIEWS OF ALLIED LEADER (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 24. The Allied Deputy-Commander-in-Chief in North Africa (Major General Mark Clark) warned newspaper correspondents that hard fighting would be necessary for the capture of Tunisia. Nevertheless, the position was better than it was expected to be at this stage. An Allied Headquarters statement said British and United States troops were concentrating according to plan. Axis air power was to some extent, slowing down the Allied advance, in which the Allied forces were subject to attack from enemy aircraft based on Sicily and Sardinia as well as on Tunisia. Nevertheless, the Allied land forces were .getting good cover from the air. The Morocco radio, quoting an Allied spokesman, said that the fighting in Tunisia was becoming mqre and more violent. German forces, which were well established, particularly in Bizerte and Tunis, possess a strong air force. Allied forces operating 22 miles south of the Tunisian coast were attacked by German land forces, but the engagement was indecisive. Radio Algiers reports that Allied columns are attacking round both Tunis and Bizerte. This report is not confirmed by Allied headquarters. The Morocco radio reports that a French column encountered Italian forces in the region south of Tunis and forced them to retreat. The Paris radio claims that important German and Italian reinforcements are still arriving at Tunis and Bizerte. Other Axis forces have landed at Sfax and Gabes. 4 German military spokesman, broadcasting over the Berlin radio, indicated that Marshal Rommel had taken over the command of the Axis forces in Tunisia. He said that with Tunisia Marshal Rommel had exchanged a useless strip of desert for a battle zone more akin to European conditions. Marshal Rommel’s Afrika Korps had taken up positions prepared beforehand. Allied Air Hacks Dealing with air operations to-day’s Cairo communique says that on Sunday naval torpedo-carrying aircraft successfully attacked an enemy merchant vessel south-east of Sardinia. The ship was hit amidships and was later seen to sink. Allied aircraft bombed Bizerte and strafed dispersed aircraft at Palermo. Three large enemy aircraft were shot down off the coast of. Tunisia, where also a schooner was attacked with cannon fire. Two Allied aircraft were lost. "Fighting Malta” is playing a great part in helping to smash Axis reinforcements going to Tunisia Bombers and fighters from Malta are attacking the enemy’s vital air transport service from Sicily to North Africa at both ends and in the middle; Each day and night they bomb the aerodromes from which Axis air-borne troops start off. They shoot down the troop-carriers during the Mediter. mean flight, .and bomb Axis air bases in Tunisia. United States Army headquarters •in Cairo states: “Royal Air Force Liberators, operating under the control of the Bomber Command of the 9th United States Force, attacked Tripoli harbour in the early hours of yesterday, scoring hits on the Spanish mole and starting at least four new fires. This attack followed earlier ones by Bomber Command B24’s. The pilots of the Liberators found that the pall of smoke from these earlier attacks had shut shipping ii the harbour completely from view.” Axis Raids on Algiers Last night there were two Axis air raids on Algiers, causing some damage. The Morocco radio says French losses in North Africa between November 8 and November 10 were 490 killed and 969 wounded. The correspondent of the “Daily Express” who was with the African naval squadron at the battle of Casablanca,, says the engagement resulted in the French losing the battleship Jean Bart, a cruiser of the Primauguet class, six light cruisers, two submarines, and a number of small craft. The Americans lost one troopship sunk, but all the men on the ship were landed. General Catroux has arrived in London at the invitation of General de Gaulle to report to the French National Committee, of which he is a member, on the political, military, and economic situation in the Levant. General Catroux will also participate in the committee’s discussions on the present situation in French North Africa. Government Headquarters of the Belgian Congo at Leopoldville report that a new contingent of the Belgian Colonial Expeditionary Corps has landed at a West African port. These native soldiers from', the heart of Africa were inspected by tire General Officer Commanding British Forced, before joining the unit. The convoy, like the previous ones, reached its destination without incident.

AGREEMENT ON MARTINIQUE

NO U.S. OCCUPATION WASHINGTON, Nov. 23. The United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) announced to-day that a satisfactory agreement had been reached concerning Martinique, and that there was now no need for America to occupy this French territory. The agreement on Martinique covers all French possessions in the Western Hemisphere, and it was made possible by a renewal of the 1940 agreement with important additions and modifications. The agreement was made with the French High Commissioner in Martinique and was made entirely independently of the Vichy Government.

U.S. CASUALTIES IN NORTH AFRICA

TOTAL OF 360 KILLED LONDON, Nov. 23. The United States War Department estimates the United States losses during the occupation of French North Africa at 360 deaths. Army losses were 350 killed, 900 wounded, and 350 missing; Navy, 'lO killed, 150 wounded, and 150 missing. The statement adds that the missing were probably drowned. The major Army losses were in the capture of Oran and Casablanca. Lieutenant-General Eisenhower, in his last report, states that the French, in co-operating with the Allies in Tunisia, suffered heavy casualties on November 19.

MANY FIRES IN STUTTGART

HEAVY R.A.F. RAID LONDON, Nov. 23. The Air Ministry states that the large flares dropped by the British bombers over Stuttgart on Sunday night, and the many fires raised in the city, brilliantly lit the snow on the surrounding hills. The attacking force included several squadrons of Stirlings, of which type not one was lost. In addition to heavy explosives, the Stirlings alone dropped 30 tons of incendiaries. The crew of one of the last Stirlings to attack reported that the target area was well ablaze. Fires were so numerous that (he target was brilliantly illuminated, and a huge pall of smoke hung over the city. For a German city there whs surprisingly little anti-aircraft opposition, but night fighters were active. It is reported from Switzerland that air raid alerts were sounded in Basle and Zurich last night. This is the usual prelude to a Royal Air Force raid on Italy. It is officially announced that United States Army Air Force bombers, supported by Royal Air Force fighters, attacked the enemy submarine base at St. Nazaire to-day.