NORTH AFRICAN ADVANCE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23809, 1 December 1942, Page 5

NORTH AFRICAN ADVANCE

Rail Junction Occupied ALLIES 13 MILES FROM TUNIS (N.Z, Press Association—Copyright.) (Rcc. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 30. Reports from Allied and Axis sources indicate a quickening tempo in the struggle in Tunisia; The Morocco radio, which last night declared that the British Ist Army was within gun range of Tunis, later announced that the Axis forces had retired behind semi-circular defences in front of Tunis and Bizerte. The Morocco radio, broadcasting what was described as a statement from Allied Headquarters in North Africa, said: “Allied parachutists at-

tacked Italian and German positions near Matcur, which is at the junction of the Tunis-Bizorte line of railway 24 miles from Bizerte. It is also learned that the Axis forces are retreating under pressure further east.” There is no official confirmation of these reports. Sunday's communique from Allied Force Headquarters in North Africa states: “Allied forces have occupied Jedeida, north-west of Tebourba. Operations in the vicinity of Mateur arc proceeding satisfactorily. “Allied aircraft yesterday bombed the aerodrome and docks at Bizerte, inflicting considerable damage. Indications arc that 10 enemy aeroplanes were destroyed, against the loss of two of ours. During this operation the enemy yesterday .made two attacks on Bone, one by a flight of eight German aeroplanes. Three were destroyed by our fighters. The other attack was by eight Italian machines, and our fighters destroyed one.” , Jedeida is a rail and road junction 13 miles west of Tunis, and Mateur is another rail and road junction 12 miles south-west of the Lake of Bizerte. With the occupation of Jedeida the Allies have severed the rail link between Tunis and Bizerte. The Algiers correspondent of “The Times" says: “It is officially estimated that 20,000 Germans have now reached the north-cast corner of Tunisia between Bizerte and Tunis from Sicily and Italy.” The correspondent of Ihc Exchange Telegraph Agency in North Africa reports that the Axis is frantically making an effort to bring up armoured columns from Tripoli, but they are unlikely to arrive in time to stiffen the armour at present at Bizerte and Tunis. The Gormans are endeavouring. by air attacks, to hold up the Allied advance, with only moderate results. A British United Press correspondent. in a cable message from Allied Headquarters, said 230 Axis aeroplanes have boon destroyed in the air and on the ground during the 20 days of the North African campaign ended at 6 a.m. on Saturday. Conference of Air Chiefs Major-General Broreton, commanding the United States Air Forces m the Middle East, returning from a flight with Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder over enemy territory to confer with Allied commanders in Northwest Africa, described the meeting on his return as “very satisfactory.” This was the first direct communication between the two forces converging to drive the Axis from Africa. The flight was made in a Flying Fortress. Those accompanying the two air chiefs included several senior British and American officers. Others present at the conference were Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, Lieutenant-Gen-eral Mark Clark, and Major-General Doolittle. The conference lasted two days. YICHY AND NEW ZEALAND Diplomatic Relations Broken Off MR FRASER ANNOUNCES DECISION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, November 30. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) said to-day that in common with others of the United Nations the Now Zealand Government had broken off relations with the Vichy Government, following upon the entry of German troops into Vichy Franco. It had been found necessary in consequence to withdraw recognition from all officers and representatives of the Government of Vichy France in New Zealand, and the Swiss Government had been asked and had agreed to take charge of New Zealand interests in France itself. J 4 This decision had been conveyed to the Consul of France in New Zealand (M. Pouquet), and the French Consulate in Wellington had been closed. Mr Fraser emphasised that this action was not directed against M. Pouquet personally, who had at all times carried out his consular duties in a most correct and cordial manner. TOULON UNREST DENIED VICHY RADIO REPORTS (Rec. 11 pm.) LONDON, Nov. 30. The Vichy radio denied rumours of serious unrest at Toulon. The town was quiet and the ■ demobilisation of the armv was carried out in good order. A~denial that French sailors went down with their ships at Toulon was also made by the radio. Three French destroyers at Toulon were intact, A Madrid message says the crew of the French submarine Iris, which arrived at Barcelona from Toulon on Saturday, has been interned. The Vichy radio broadcast a message to all aircraft personnel “who in the course of recent events were forced to leave their base to return to it immediately in order to regulate their situation." JAPANESE ACTIVITY IN ALEUTIANS (Rec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 2D. If is announced in Washington that the Japanese are in occupation of Attu Island, in the Aleutians, which they were believed some weeks ago to have abandoned. Attu is the westernmost island in the Aleutian chain, and is about 240 miles north-west of Kiska Island. The United States Navy Department announced that Flying Fortresses on November 20 attacked a small enemy convoy vessel off Attu Island. Three bomb hits set the vessel on fire. When last seen she appeared to be sinking. Army fighters which accompanied the Fortresses strafed an enemy anti-air-craft installation' on the island. No American aeroplanes were lost.