A THUNDERBOLT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21092, 12 May 1943, Page 3

A THUNDERBOLT

ALLIED SUCCESS REVIEW IN~:OMMONS AXIS PROSPECTS BLEAK (10 a.m.) LONDON, May 11. Reviewing the Tunisian . campaign to date, the Dominions Secretary, Major C. R. Attlee, in the House of Commons, revealed that the First Army casualties since April 17 totalled 8400. The Eighth Army casualties from April 20 to May 3 were just over 2400. Referring to a certain feeling of impatience with the slow progress of the campaign, Major Attlee said: “The difficulties of supply and the long line of communications have not always been realised. We should, in our appreciation of the victory, do well to remember the services of the men who supply those engaged in the fighting. Naturally, the rapid advance of the Americans in the north and the break-through of our armour in the centre, culminating in the capture of Bizerta and Tunis, overshadow the rest of the fighting. Those advances were only possible because of the hard and difficult fighting in which the Allies engaged against the stubborn enemies occupying the positions of the greatest natural strength. Enemy Demoralised

“General* Alexander achieved the final break-through off the central sector. His preliminary preparations included the strengthening of the First Army by switching formations from the Eighth Army. The First Army covered the final 30 miles to Tunis in 36 hours, leaving the enemy battered and demoralised, and with little organised resistance. In General Alexander’s words, it was a real thunderbolt. The Americans almost simultaneously entered Bizerta after crossing extremely difficult country.

“We are estimated to have taken prisoner since May 5 at least 50,000 of the ..enemy, mostly Germans. The number is continually increasing. The remaining anxieties, apart from small pockets holding here and there, are mostly in the Cape Bon Peninsula. Thus far the battle has gone well, li is still too early to say how long it will last or to speculate on the enemy’s hope of resistance or escape, but I think I can say that their prospects are bleak.” Both the House of Lords and the House of Commons went into secret session for a few minutes before Viscount Cranborne and Major Attlee made statements on the war in the respective Houses. Viscount Cranborne concluded hi.-, statement by expressing the admiration of the House and rendering thanks to the men of the United Nations who had played a part in the signal victory. Lord Addison described the achievement as not surpassed by any previous example. It spoke volumes foi the organisation and co-operation which the different branches of supply and other services must have been trained to exercise.

Lord Samuel paid a special tribute to the tenacity, foresight, and efficient direction of Mr. Winston Churchill.