TUNISIA CAMPAIGN

Grey River Argus, 26 November 1942, Page 5

TUNISIA CAMPAIGN

AIR STRUGGLE Allies Awaiting More Forces [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON. Nov. 24, The North African Allied Headquarters stated British and United States troops were concentrating according to pla &xis air power was , to some extent slowing down the Al-1 l : ed advance. Allied forces were subiect to attack from enemy aircraft based on Sicily and Sardinia, as well as on Tunisia. Allied land forces were getting good cover from the air. J ocal engagements are reported by forward troops of the Allied force. French patrols report continued activity in the southern sector. In the southern sector also an Allied paratroop unit renulsed an enemy mechanised column and captured prisonAlgiers radio said that Allied columns are attacking round botn Tunis and Bizerta. This report is not confirmed by Allied Heado.uartors The Allied Deputy-Commander-in-Chief in North Africa (MajorGeneral Mark Clark) warned newspaper correspondents that hard fighting would be necessary for the capture of Tunisia. Nevertheless, the position was better than it was expected to be at this stage. At Cairo a R.A.F. communique .■•.tated that on Sunday naval torpedocarrying aircraft successfully attacked an enemy merchant vessel southeast of Sardinia. The ship was . hit amidships and was later seen to sink. Allied aircraft bombed Bizerta and strafed dispersed aircraft at Palermo. Three large enemy aircraft were shot down off the coast of Tunisia, where also a schooner was attacked with -annon fire. Two Allied aircraft were lost. Allied fighters shot, down four enemy aircraft and attacked an en emy troop train near Qabes. Bomb-,-rs have carried out night raids on Bizerta and Tunis. None of our planes is missing from these operations. Last night there were two Axis air r.- ids on Algiers, causing some dambeing released when the Allied forces landed in North Africa ' 1000 internees from a camp in the Sahara Desert have just reached ' Britain. Some are survivors of the Manchester sunk in a Malta convoy, and include its Commander, Captain Drew. The released men spoke of the deplorable accommodation, bad food and the plague of bugs and flies. The only bright spot was the arrival of food parcels from the Red Cross. Wild cheers swept through the camp when the news ‘came over the radio of the Allied landing in North Africa. Captain Drew said that after the Manchester was torpedoed, “we got ashore in Tunisia in rafts and boats, and anything that would keep us afloat. An Italian E-boat. took off one Lieutenant and a midshipman and made them prisoners. Actually they were looking* for me, as they wanted me as a souvenir in Rome. I complained to the French authorities about the capture of my two officers in French territory by the Italians, and they persuaded the Italians to I release them The E-boat had hoistIcd a flag with the skull and crossbones —an indication of a sinking—end when mv two officers were released the midshipman was wearing the skull and crossbones flag as a muffler. The conditions in the Sahara camp were very bad. Forty-eight to 50 men were placed in huts designed to accommodate 24 coloured men.” Battle for Air Supremacy ALLIE.S RAID BIZERTA. ENEMY RETALIATION ON ALGIERS. (Rec. 11.20.) LONDON,.„Nov, 25 In Tunisia, there is a struggle developing- for air supremacy. According to a Reuter correspondent with American forces, the Allied advance has been somewhat slowed down by the arrival of an increasing number of German fighters and bombers. » • . Nevertheless, Allied air force ’planes have been severely punishing the enemy. R.A.F. ’planes have been smashing up Bizerta harbour, also Axis shipping and Axis-occupied airfields. United Nations fighter ’planes attacked enemv troop trains near Qabes, and shot down four* Axis ’planes attempting interception. Axis ’planes are retaliating in raids against Algerian and other places. , The Algiers radio has annealed to the population in Algiers not to stay in the streets during the raids.. Tlje announcer said that more had been Injured by shrapnel than by bombs. Battle for Passes FIRST ARMY WAITING. FOR FULLER MUSTER OF STRENGTH. (Rec. 1110.) LONDON,’ Nov. 25. A “Daily Telegraph” correspondent with the First Army states: A cattle for two important passes, whose possession commands an entry_Jnto both Algeria and Tunisia, still rages. British troops from Southern England and Scotland hold one pass, in _the north, where the main battle is occurring. Into this pass there debouch two main roads from Bizerta and Tunis. i “The enemy is not giving these weary and rain-soaked troops any rest. But tliev have their tails up. “French troops, supported by newly-arrived British parji-troops, hold similarly a second important pass farther south. “It should be emphasised that these forces are expected to hold these passes only until missive strength for a force, which will drive against Bizerta and Tunis, is fully ready to strikej The British First Army is well ahead of schedule, but not all of the essential supplies have been able to keep up with this compressed timetable (Rec.’ 11.25) LONDON, Nov. 25. The Associated Press now advises that the story ' about the battle for passes from the “Daily Telegraph's” correspondent with the British r'irst Army is a delayed despatch describing a battle which gave the First Army entry into Tunisia'. Allied Land Forces FORCE BACK ENEMY UNITS. (Rec. 11.20) LONDON, Nov. 24. A battle for air supremacy appears to be developing rapidly in Tunisia. In the meantime land fighting has flared up in isolated engagements. Reports from the Allied Headquarters in North Africa state; That the First Army forced back advanced German units west of Bizerta, and that an American force, with a sprinkling of French troops drove back advanced German units twentyfour miles south-west of Tunis. i American paratroops were landed sometime ago to defend positions near captured aerodromes in southern Tunisia. They broke U.D a German

armoured column, and captured prisoners. A concentration of Allied troops is proceeding. Enemy Entrenched IN TUNIS MAIN PORTS, (Rec, 11.20.) LONDON, Nov. 25. An Associated Press of America correspondent reporting from an Allied Headquarters in North Africa, says: The Germans still are entrenched in Bizerta and in Tunis. The perimeter area of these cities is under their control.. This area extends about twenty to thirty miles from the cities. ALLIES AWAIT AIR REINFORCEMENTS. (Rec 11.5.) I , LONDON, Nov. 24. A “Daily Telegraph’’ correspondent with the British First Army on the Tunisian front, says: It is not likely that the First Army will attempt a full-scale assault until the Allied air resources in Northern Tunisia have grown considerably greater than the< are at present. NEW ALLIED CONCENTRATION. WARSHIPS AND PLANES AT GIBRALTAR. (Rec. 11.20) LONDON, Nov. 24. At Gibraltar, two more battleships, and several cruisers and destroyers and also aircraft have arrived. These arrivals is an indication Ithat British and American operations are about to take a new turn. ADMIRAL DARLAN. NEW YORK, Nov. 24. Lord Halifax, British Ambassador, in answer to a question whether Admiral Darlan could be trusted, said that Darlan must be .judged by his achievements. LONDON, Nov. 24. In official Allied quarters the placing of French West Africa undec Admiral Darlan’s authority is regarded as purely a French matter. French delegates from Dakar reached their decision after more than a week’s deliberations. DAKAR GOVERNOR. EXPLAINS ADHESION TO DARLAN. (Rec. 11.20 LONDON, Nov. 24. General Boisson, broadcasting over the Dakar radio, stressed that it has been his highest concern to uphold the sovereignty of French West Africa He said that the same motive has led him to place himself under the command of Admiral Darlan, but he would not have taken this step if he were not certain that in doing this he remained true to his oath of alegiance to Marshal Petain. General Eoisson asked the Dakar population to accept his'decision. He said: “Our country will remain free from foreign occupation. The path which West Africa now enters with North ’ Africa, and which is leading to the liberation of France and its chief, will demand sacrifices from all.’’ RELEASE OF SPANISH MUSICIAN ASKED. (Rec. 5.5) NEW YORK, Nov. 25. Arturo Toscanini, conductor of the Philadelphia orchestra and Eugene Ormandy, and members of ’the orchestra have petitioned Senator Hull (Secretary of State) and the Spanish Ambassador in America, asking that Pablo Casals, an eminent cellist, be granted an immediate amnesty or safe conduct to the. Portuguese border from Spain. Casals was .a loyalist during the Spanish civil war. At present he is a political prisoner in Spain. He was captured when the . Germans occupied Vichy.