ADVANCE IN TUNIS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 November 1942, Page 5

ADVANCE IN TUNIS

VITAL ’DROME CAPTURED

PARATROOPS’ GOOD WORK BOTH SIDES”rEINFORCED

LONDON, November 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. 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 three-pronged 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 are 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 m Tunisia on Monday have contacted the enemy and it is believed that they have now captured a second' aerodrome. French troops warmly rereceived the American troops who were dropped on an aerodrome near the Algerian and Tunisian border. French troops in Tunisia, who have been opposing the Axis forces, are reported to be making a fighting withdrawal westwards under order to | <oin the British Ist Army advancing Algeria. Reports reaching Allied headquarters state that thotisands of French North African solcliers have joined the Americans, who are marching from Morocco, from the Oran area and from other points 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,” states the correspondent ol the Exchange Telegraph Agency in Algiers. “Our skytroops came from the original parachute battalion,, and they included men from 67 dineient regiments. The majority of them aie Londoners.” , , „,, The Madrid correspondent ol me “Daily Mail” says the Germans are now reported to be m good positions at Tunis and Bizertai French units at both places strove to resist German air-borne troops, but there was confusion of commancl. British paratroops are reported to have gallantly attempted to seize Fort d’Espagne, commanding Bizeita on the land side, but they m-t a greatly superior German force. AERIAL ACTIVITIES LONDON, Nov. 19. “The hunt for submarines by the Royal Navy, naval aircralt, and the Royal Air Force continues with considerable success.” . . . The Allied air assault in lunisia continues. Reporting air activity over Tunisia to-day’s Cairo communique says that in a raid on the Tunis aerodrome explosions and tires were Cc Flying Fortresses attacked the Elverta 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 Bizerta. The Germans are said to have packed the Bizerta and Tunis aerodromes with swarms of dive-bombers. Axis aircraft have been active along the Algerian coast. ‘Bounding almost daily from aerodrome to aerodrome along the North African coast, formations of the Royall Air Force are engaging the enemy wherever he is found and inflicting losses much greater than their own, states Reuter’s correspondent. ‘lhe Royal Air Force is now firmly established in this new theatre. The Royal Air Force initially concentrated on accumulating fighters, but American heavy bombers have now arrived and will shortly be going into action. Their first objectives will be the German bomber aerodromes, but probably they will also give Italian cities doses of corrective medicine.” AXIS-CLAIMS. (Rec. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 19. The only news of military operations in North Africa conies from Axis sources. The Berlin News Agency to-night reported that the Axis occupation of further sectors in Tunisia was being carried out without friction. So far there had been no major clashes with the British and Americans. Heavy German and Italian raids against the harbour at Bone and traffic along the AlgerianTunisian coasts were hindering the enemy’s advance, and the landing of further forces. Every delay in the progress of the British and Americans means more reinforcements for Axis forces in Tunisia. Stefani News Agency quoted a report that the commander of the French aircraft-carrier Bearn, which is anchored at Martinique, had arrived in North Africa to join the Allies. The agency added that the report cannot be confirmed at Vichy.

FRENCH TROOPS CO-OPERATING

LONDON, November 18. Correspondents’ dispatches still do not reveal the strength and depth ol the Allied penetration into Tunisia. British paratroops dropped deep into Tunisia on Monday have contacted the enemy, and are believed to have now captured a second aerodrome. French troops warmly received the American troops who dropped at an aerodrome near the Algerian and the Tunisian border. The French troops in Tunisia who have been opposing the Axis forces, are reported to be making a fighting withdrawal westward, under orders to join the British First 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, from the Oran area, and anomer point in Algeria to Tunisia. Paris radio reports that 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. The Allied Air Forces are struggling for the mastery of the air which is the key to the Tunisian drive. Flying Fortresses attacked Bizerta naval base, set fire to petrol and ammunition dumps, destroyed several planes on the ground, and a Messerschmitt in aerial combat. Heavy flak was encountered over the airfield at Bizerca. At least 7000 British prisoners—possibly twice this total—including naval men, merchant seamen, soldiers, and Air Force personnel have been released from concentration camps in North Africa since the Allied occupation. Sortie have been captives since the last Malta convoy battle. Others have been imprisoned for many months. The first batch have reached a Mediterranean port, on the first stage of the journey home. They are pitifully dressed in motley uniforms and civilian clothes, and many are m rags. All are unanimous in their gratitude to the American Ambassador at- Algiers, who was able to provide small gomforts.

FRENCH GARRISONS. RUGBY, November 19. Operations in Tunisia are stillveiled in secrecy, but it is clear that both sides are pouring forces by every available means into the province. In the circumstances, there can be no definite dividing line between the two sides, especially as both are likely to be aiming first and foremost at the occupation of such strategic points as aerodromes, ports, and junctions. A further element of uncertainty in the rapidly moving situation is the attitude of French garrisons and authorities at each place, on which much depends. Reports that Allied forces are advancing from the Chad territory are unconfirmed. The nature of the country and the enormous distances involved make it unlikely that any substantial forces are operating on the southern frontiers of Libya. It is 900 miles from Fort Lamy, near Lake Chad, to Kufra or Murzuk, in Libya, and a further 500 from Kufra to Agheila, or Murzuk to Tripoli. Nevertheless, the commander of the Fighting French troops in the Sahara, General Lcclero, is known to be extremely enterprising and his men in the past have been able to make daring raids deep into Italian territory. FRENCHFLEET. LONDON, November 18. One view in London, is that the French Fleet is unlikely to be a fighting unit any longer. Three big ships are in dry dock. It is also unlikely that the Germans will allow them to leave Toulon. If they did they would be subjected to attack by artillery, clive-bombers and U-boats.