GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23812, 4 December 1942, Page 5

GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED

Sharp Fighting In Tunisia

ALLIED BOMBING CONTINUES

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. In Tunisia it seems that the main battle has yet to start. Already sharp preliminary fighting has occurred at several points. Minor fighting of a sharp nature is reported from Tebourba, about eight miles behind Jedeida. The Allied forces here beat off an enemy counter-attack. There is no official Indication of the exact area of the fighting in this sector. "Allied forces in the Tebourba area, 20 miles Avest of Tunis, repulsed an enemy counter-attack,” states Wednesday’s Allied communique. "Bombing attacks on the airfields at Tunis and Bizerte continued. Light bombers and fighters have been supporting our forward troops. Several enemy aircraft have been destroyed. Five of ours are missing. The JRoyal Navy is assisting in the provision of cover for the advance of our forces.” An American correspondent writes: "We are hanging on to Tebourba in face of German counter-attacks." He adds that to understand the position it must be realised that General Anderson had to take a long chance and throw his land forces into an area where the Allied air forces could not fully cover them. “British and American troops have smashed a violent counter-attack against their flank, north of Tebourba," says a correspondent at Allied headquarters in North Africa. “Concentrated fire from all arms, supported by fighters and light bombers, met the German tanks and infantry, which lost heavily in men and material before they were pushed back.” Correspondents also report fierce fighting around Jedeida and Mateur, on the Allied wedge between Tunis and Bizerte. One correspondent states that the battle in this sector, where the bulk of the Axis forces is concentrated, is believed to be entering its final phase. The Allies are battering their way slowly towards the Bizerte-Tunis highway. Anotner correspondent says Allied air superiority is making itself felt, Lockheed Lightnings and Spitfires in the last 24 hours have shot down eight German aeroplanes for the loss of one Allied machine. Lightnings knocked out several tanks in the Jedeida area oi. Tuesday. Heavy and practically continuous attacks were kept up on Bizerte and Tunis. Flying Fortresses left the El Ouina aerodrome practically wrecked. Allied aircraft, in their fifth raid on Tunis Avithin 48 hours observed at least 12 enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground. An American spokesman at Allied headquarters in London said there was no confirmation of the report that the Luftwaffe Avas withdrawing from Tunisia. . . Reuter's correspondent with the isr Army says “Christmas at Tripoli is now a stock phrase among the men of the Ist Army, but authoritative military quarters are much more cautious They concede that Allied troops may 'be in Tripoli by Christmas, but they are more likely to be men of the Bth Army than the Ist Army. A British United Press correspondent at Allied headquarters says: “Three-quarters of the Allied troops in Tunisia are British. The remainder are Americans, with a minor French force tf The Algiers radio says detachments of British. American. French colonial, and French troops paraded before Admiral Darlan and the British and American commanders. The crowd cheered on seeing the French troops beside the Allied forces.

FRENCH FLEET AT TOULON

BEST VESSELS SUNK

OR DISABLED

NEW YORK, Dec. 2. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says that the Secretary of the United States Navy (Colonel Frank Knox) expressed the opinion that the four submarines which are reported to have escaped from Toulon were the only units of the French fleet not destroyed or damaged. , Other informed circles say that one aerial reconnaissance has revealed 10 or 12 ships apparently intact. The remainder of the fleet has been sunk or badly damaged. It was added that the best French vessels had been sunk or disabled for a long time. The French submarine Gloricux has arrived at Algiers from Toulon, by way of Valencia. . . The Tass Agency states that it is reported from Berne that the French garrison at Montpellier resisted Hitler’s demobilisation order and S.S. troops had to fight their way into the barracks. A number were killed and wounded on both sides. The Germans arrested about 600 marines who refused to lay down their arms at Marseilles.

MEDITERRANEAN OBJECTIVES

ALLIED MOVES FROM NORTH AFRICA

NEW YORK, Dec. 2. The military commentator of the New York newspaper “P.M.” says: ‘‘The battle of the Mediterranean has not begun yet. Naturally the next move is secret, but there are obvious limited objectives which would simplify an invasion of Europe either through Italy, southern France, or the Balkans. ‘‘The occupation of Sicily, Sardinia, and possibly Corsica are vital requirements. After the capture of Tunis and Bizerte, a smashing air offensive against Sicily and Sardinia can be expected Immediately. ‘‘The current wave of optimism Is a natural reaction after years of Allied set-backs, but It is not entirely justified,” he says. "The North African coup was a victory of major proportions. but silly predictions about ending the war in January do not make sense. Hitler has 300 divisions of the finest troops in the world in Europe, the world’s most powerful air force, and he holds a central position on which it would be a Herculean task to defeat him. Hitler is a long way from being licked, no matter how good things look."

CAMPAIGN IN LIBYA

PATROL ACTION NEAR EL AGHEILA

ENEMY AIRCRAFT DESTROYED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. To-day’s Cairo communique states; “Yesterday our patrols were active in the neighbourhood of El Agheila. There was a slight increase of air activity over Cyrenaica. “A German bomber was shot down by our fighters. Ground fire destroyed a Messerschmitt 109. On Tuesday night Allied aircraft attacked Tripoli, scoring hits on the mole, and also attacked Bizerte and Gabes, where a train was shot up. A south-bound tanker was set on fire oil the south coast of Sicily. All our aircraft are safe.”

A British assault against Rommel’s defences at El Agheila appears imminent. The artillery duels reported yesterday seem to be the prelude to another ding-dong battle. A British Broadcasting Corporation correspondent states that the remaining Axis forces on the western borders of Cyronaica have taken up strong natural defence positions at El Aghella. However, they cannot be too happy about their resources and supply difficulties.

MUSSOLINI’S SPEECH

RELIANCE PLACED ON JAPAN

LONG WAR PREDICTED LONDON, Dec. 2. Mussolini, addressing the Fascist Chamber of Corporations, said that victory could not fail to come to tho Axis, Japan’s intervention was a guarantee, of that, for Japan was invincible. Mussolini denied that the Italian people were losing their enthusiasm for war. He said: "There are some nervous .people among the population, but the percentage is slight.” Predicting that the war would continue for a long time, Mussolini said there was not the slightest doubt about the end of this gigantic struggle. He classed the most important events of the last 18 months as the war against Russia, Japan’s entry into the war, and the Allied landing in North Africa. “The military strength of Russia came as no surprise to me,” he said. “After receiving the report of the Italian military mission which went to Russia in 1933, I was convinced that there was a great military state there with armaments far different from those it had in 1920. I realised that there was a menace in the oast.” II Ducc said that Japan had done splendidly not to wait before striking shattering blows against America. "Japan’s intervention is an, absolute guarantee of an Axis victory. Japan is invincible,” he declared. “If there is any man in the world who wishes for war it is Roosevelt. Japan could not stand by and let America fire the first shot. America expected to annihilate Japan in two or three weeks." Attack on France Referring to France. Mussolini said: "When Italy attacked France, nobody believed that France would suddenly collapse. France’s alpine army was still intact. Let us admit that we stabbed Franco in the back, but this is only one stab compared with 100 stabs that France has "made against Italy in history. France has always been arrogant.” Protesting against British bombing technique, Mussolini said that 1870 civilians had been killed and 3332 injured since the outbreak of the war. Of these 838 had been killed and* 994 injured since November 23. Air raid damage in Milan. Turin, Genoa, and Savona totalled 587 buildings destroyed, 5356 heavily damaged, and 13,000 slightly damaged. Women and children were being evacuated from the bombed cities. Only necessary combatants would remain.

Mussolini added; "Germany will give powerful assistance in the form of anti-aircraft guns to ensure that the joint Italian an'd German defences give the raiders a hot reception. The Italian people arc not inferior to the British and the Russians. We will show that the blood of the ancient Romans flows in our veins. We shall hold hard.”

Mussolini dealt at great length with (he Italian war profit and loss account. He claimed colossal sinkings of shipping and the capture of scores of thousands of British troops, including 21 generals. He said that the Italian Navy alone had sunk 140 enemy warships. "Italy respects international law in the treatment of prisoners. The enemy does not,” he declared. “British treatment of Italian prisoners has been almost universally inhuman. British soldiers have even flogged Italian officers.”

Mussolini attacked Mr Churchill’s latest broadcast, which, he said, was devoted almost exclusively to Italy. After bitter personal abuse of Mr Churchill, Mussolini made a long attack on Britain, in which he reviewed the history of the last 300 years. It was II Duce’s longest speech since the outbreak of the war. It consisted of 7000 words, and lasted 82 minutes.

Much of the speech was devoted to reassuring the population of big Italian cities about Royal Air Force raids. The meeting passed a resolution expressing fidelity in II Duce and determination to conclude the war victoriously.

RAIDS ON NORTHERN ITALY

“EQUIVALENT OF TEN COVENTRIES ” (8.0. W.) RUGBY. Dec. 2. Fifteen hundred tons of bombs have been dropped on northern Italy. Genoa, Milan, and Turin have received the equivalent of 10 “Coventries," and three-tenths of the industrial area of northern Italy was effectively damaged during the five weeks beginning on October 22. This summing-up was given'to-day by an authority in reviewing the opening of the Royal Air Force campaign againt Italy. _ Authentic reports reaching London said that the effect of the recent raid on Turin on November 28 was especially devastating. The population lost its nerve and panicked on a large scale, and there was no order in the city for three days. Even the morale of the authorities was seriously affected. The general situation in northern Italy was that the authorities were unable to cope with the problem of mass evacuation, said this authority. To-day the people were no longer interested in the war. Their only idea was how to escape from the Royal Air Force. He pointed out that there were plenty of military targets in Rome, and he did not think that the presence of (he Vatican should make it difficult to bomb Rome.