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Grey River Argus, 23 November 1942, Page 5

LATEST NEWS

Allied Successes

FRENCH CAPTURE GERMANS. MORE ENEMY FORCES. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 11.40.) LONDON, Nov. 22. The Morocco (Allied) radio, reports: A British and American column has captured a railway junction north-west of Gabes. “French units in this area have taken prisoner several groups of German troops. “French columns are advancing from the south. Thev have succeeded, after a heavy engagement between Kairwan and Susa, in encircling an Axis force ” It is reported that the enemy now has been ordered to discontinue resistance in the southern sector, and to proceed to the north. A German detachment from Tripolitania, has crossed the Tunisian frontiej* in the direction of Gafsa, thirty miles from the frontier and Kairwan.

French troops have repelled local attacks west of Tunis. They have captured four tanks.

OVER 1,000 BRITISH SERVICEMEN

RELEASED IN NORTH AFRICA.

LONDON. November 20. The Associated Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters in North Africa'says: Fifty-six British officers and 965 men of the *R.A.F, and Navy were released from internment m North Africa. Most of the naval ratings reached the African shore from sunken cruisers. Others came from a former trans-Atlantic liner.

German Counter-attack

AGAINST ALLIED DRIVE WHAT FORM WILL IT TAKE? [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rise. 6.30) NEW YORK, Nov. 21. Mr Joseph Harsch, writing in the Boston “Christian Science Monitor” says: Hitler’s full answer to the British-American drive for control of the North African coast will prove the first adequate measuring stick for his remaining military resources after three years of war and his two stupendous and costly campaigns in Russia. An aggressive German answer would be an attempt to turn the tables on our forces once they had been established inside of the Mediterranean by the enemy creating a pincers through Spain and through Turkey. A passive’ answer would be to interpose all of the available Axis forces between the Libvan and Tunisian fronts, striving only to retain the now-threatened Axis bridgehead in North Africa as a means of denying the Allies full use of the Mediterranean. The only recent official estimate of the size of Hitler’s total armies was contained in M. Stalin’s speech on November 5. He credited the Germans with 256 divisions, of which, he said, there were 179 divisions on the Russian front. If Hitler was left with only 77 divisions for the garrisoning of the 1 occupied countries, for fighting in Tripolitania, and i for providing home reserves, he i scarcely would be in a position to launch" a major offensive around the two ends of the Mediterranean. The moment that Hitler shows his hand we will know reasonably and accurately the extent of his resources, and will" be able to calculate the likely duration of the war. If he chooses the Central Mediterranean, it will mean that the war can end sooner than realistic minds have hitherto dared to hope. LONDON, Nov. 21. “Mecmeddin Sadak,” a Turkish parliamentarian. writing in the newspaper “Aksam,” of which he is editor says: “After occupying Africa and dominating the Mediterranean, the Allies are entitled to send supplies to Russia through the Dardanelles in accordance with the Montreaux Treaty.” Rome radio broadcast that North Africa was only a springboard from which American forces would pounce upon the Continent. “Italy's hour has struck. It is also Europe’s hour,” said the speaker. “Italy is defending the whole of Europe. Danger threatens not only from the east (Russia), but also from the West, beyond the ocean.”

HITLER’S COMMAND. PRUSSIAN STAFF REPORTED DISSATISFIED. (Rec. 10.10.) LONDON, Nov. 21. The “Daily Mail’s” military correspondent stated: It is believed that General Von Thoma, after his capture, stated that Hitler’s assumption of supreme Command spells disaster for the German war machine. General Von Thoma belongs to the professional school of German soldiers, who maintain that war is the professional soldiers’ preserve, and who dispute any encroachment on their sphere by civilians or politicians, including Hitler, and all members of the Nazi Party. It is also reported that General Von Thoma criticised Hitler’s economic policy. Members of the German High Command so far have subdued their views, but many are known to have opposed the Russian campaign, or, at least, German tactics in Russia. They now sea their long-range plans wrecked by the Allies’ African stroke. Therefore, it is possible that a strain which must rapidly become intolerable, has been placed on the men who are responsible for the Axis conduct of the war.

Enemy Forces STILL CONSIDERABLE IN AFRICA. (Rec. 10.10.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, Colonel Knox said many Axis submarines are concentrated close to North Africa, and others are still operating in the Atlantic. He gave a warning that Marshal Von Rommel probably will not leave Africa without another stand, as he still possesses considerate forces. PANZER EXPERT. GOES TO AFRICA. (Rec. 10.50) ISTANBUL, Nov. 21. It is reported that the panzer expert, General Guderian, has gone to North Africa. ENEMY RAIDS ALGIERS. (Rec. 8.15.) LONDON, Nov. 21An Allied Headquarters communloue states: Enemy aircraft made a raid on Algiers yesterday evening..