ALLIED ARMIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20958, 4 December 1942, Page 3

ALLIED ARMIES

FIGHTING IN TUNISIA AXIS COUNTER SMASHED (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 3. British and American troops smashed a violent counter-attack against their flank north of Turburba, says a correspondent at Allied headauarters. Concentrated fire from all arms, supported by fighters and light bombers, met German tanks and infantry, which lost heavily in men and material before they were pushed back. Correspondents also report fierce fighting round Djedida and Mateur, at the Allied wedge between Tunis and Bizerta. One correspondent states that the battle in this sector, where .the bulk of the Axis forces are concentrated, is believed to be entering the final phase. The Allies are battering their way slowly towards the Bizerta-Tunis highway. Allied air superiority is making itself felt. Lockheed Lightnings and Spitfires in the last 24 hours shot down eight German planes for the loss of one Lightning and knocked out several tanks in the Djedida area. On Tuesday, heavy and practically continuous attacks were kept up on Bizerta and Tunis. Flying Fortresses left the El Aluina aerodrome practically wrecked. “Christmas at Tripoli”

The British United Press’ correspondent at Allied headquarters says that threequarters of the Allied troons in Tunisia are British and the remainder Americans, with a minor French force.

The Algiers radio says that detachments of British, American, and French colonial French troops paraded before Admiral Darlan and British and American commanders. The crowd cheered on seeing the French beside the Allied troops.

Reuter’s correspondent with the First Army says “Christmas at Tripoli” is now the stock phase among the men of the First Army, but authoritative military quarters are much more cautious. They concede that troops may be in Tripoli by Christmas, but they are more likely to be the Eighth Army than the First. , Patrol activity in the El Agheila area continued yesterday, says a Cairo communique. There was a slight increase in enemy air activity. We destroyed two enemy planes. Our ourcraft bombed Tripoli, Bizerta, Gabes and torpedoed a large southbound tanker which was left burning oft' the coast of Sicily. From all these operations all our machines returned.