TANK CLASHES GROW MORE FREQUENT

Grey River Argus, 23 November 1942, Page 5

TANK CLASHES GROW MORE FREQUENT

French Fighting the Germans Vigorously

LONDON, November 20.

The Battle of Tunisia increased m fury and scope with unexpected rapidity. . Allied heavy units are within reach of main German defensive positions, about thirty miles from both Tunis and Bizerta.

In the first ground clash between the Americans and the Germans crack new United States mobile artillery units, with British and French forces, shattered a forward German motorised column twenty miles southward of the coastal area where the main tank engagement occurred. The Germans were forced to retire. Co-operation with the French troops is becoming more and more efficient. British combat teams are driving on Tunis and Bizerta from several directions. They destroyed one-third of a panzer column between thirty and forty miles from Bizerta, and drove back two other German columns further south in the first heavy fighting in Tunisia. The Germans used their best medium tanks and dive-bombers, Allied losses in the opening battle being comparatively slight. , , . “German losses were heavy, out they are pouring in reserves and we are apparently- in for considerable fighting. Germans are digging m thirty miles to the south-west of both Bizerta and Tunis, and are making a stand. The situation is confused. It appears that almost the rest of Tunisia is under the control of P ro " Allied French garrisons or in Allien occupation. . , Pro-Allied French forces captured small German units trying to push southward along the Gulf of Qabes. The French have also driven off airtempts to land airborne troops m this,area. The French are doing exceedingly well, despite great confusion as a result of local commanders’ contradictory orders to surrender to the Germans or to resist x , “It is a hell of a mess, but most or the French appear to be resolved to carry on the fight against the Axis. The Germans have been pushing out columns from their newly-formeu lines around Tunis and Bizerta, but m every clash they have been driven back/’ said an Allied spokesman. The Luftwaffe is continuously attacking Allied columns from Bone eastward, using dive-bombers and low-flying fighters. Violent air combats are occurring. Non-stop attacks on British columns by the Luftwaffe have had little effect. Flying Fortresses in daylight pounded the German air stations and the harbour installations at Bizerta with good results. American anti-aircraft units are playing a big nart in beating off the raiders. The Royal Air Force is also active in attacking the enemy-occupi-ed aerodrome at Tunis. Many direct hits have been scored. The Tunisian campaign mav be easier than was expected, according to the British United Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters, because General Barre’s resistance has upset the Axis plans. Reports received led the Germans to believe that the Frenchmen in Tunisia would not fight. They proved wrong. Frenchmen have been and are still fighting, and the strength of their resistance may well prove to be an upsetting factor in the Axis plans. , x Morocco radio, which gave the first report of General Barre’s resistance, now states that the Tunisian French forces have issued their first communique as follows: "The Germans have opened hostilities. French troops supported by Allied contingents, repulsed several attacks in Western Tunisia.” x , x . . Vichy radio states that it is reported from Tangier that General Eisenhower has ordered the general mobilisation of the occupied French North African areas. The Berlin radio states that 4000 de Gaullist troops from French Equatorial Africa have landed in North Africa -and have begun to march inland. The Associated Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters m North Africa states that 56 British officers and 965 men of the Royal Air Force and Navy have been released from internment in North Africa. Most of the naval ratings reached the African shore from sunken cruisers. Others came from a former transAtlantic liner.

ALLIES IN CONTACT WITH ENEMY. (Rec. 6.30.) LONDON, Nov. 21. An Allied Force Headquarters communique was received in London on Saturday evening. It said: An Allied force of advanced units m Tunisia, has been maintaining contact with enemy forces. It has been determined that eleven out of thirty German medium tanks were destroyed during an engagement on Wednesday.

Allies Take Bridge

FRENCH ATTACK GERMANS. £anding prevented: (Rec. 9.20.) LONDON, Nov 22. A report from the Allied North African Headquarters says: After particularly sharp fighting, Allied forces captured a Tunisian bridge which is a key to vital cross-roads. The French are attacking. the German defensive positions in this locality. The Germans are continually bringing up supplies to the. area about thirty miles south-west of Tunis. They are doing so under constant harassing by British and American ’planes. According to the Algiers (Allied) radio, a French regiment has repulsed an attempted Axis landing in the Gulf of Gabe_s. Enemy 'planes bombed Algiers on Friday, causing some damage. The Brazzaville (Free French) radio reported that Allied units had contacted Axis troops twenty-five miles south-east of Tunis, probably in the Hammamet Oasis. Clashes Increasing AXIS AIR OPPOSITION. TO ADVANCE ON BIZERTA. (Rec. 11.0.) LONDON, Nov. 21. The correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain at Allied Headquarters reports: in spite of in-

tense Axis air attacks which are leading to violent air battles. Allied forces continue to advance methodical The correspondent adds: “Reports from the fighting front are scanty and belated. They suggest that clashes are now becoming more noMembers of General Eisenhower s staff are announced as follows; Chief of Staff, Brigadier-General Walter U. B. Smith (United States Army): Chief Administrator, Major-General H. M. Gale (British): Deputy-Chiefs qf Staff Brigadier-General Alfred M. Grunther (United States Army) and_Bngadier J .S. M.' Whitley (British). FRENCH AND AMERICANS. NOW WORK TOGETHER. (Rec. 10.10.) LONDON, Nov. 21. A British United Press correspondent in North Africa says: Americans and French in Oran ar e working side by side in a common cause where, recently, they were trying to kill each other. French Naval men, who scuttled over twenty ships in Oran hgrbour a few hours before Oran’s capitulation, are now co-operating to the full with the American Navy in an effort to raise some of the ships. Members of the French Army and also reservists are anxious to fight against the Germans. There are some pro-Axis elements among the officers.

Lake Chad Army

MOVES TO CUT OFF ROMMEL’S ARMY.

(Rec. 9.25) LONDON, Nov. 21. The Algiers radio says: “It. is reported that there is an Allied army moving northward from the Lake Chad "district. Probablv it is in an attempt to cut the coastal road between' El Agheila and Tripoli.