TUNIS STRUGGLE

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1942, Page 5

TUNIS STRUGGLE

GERMAN ATTACKS LOSING POWER French Success (Roc. 12.10.) LONDON, Reuter's correspondent m North Africa says: After three days of the stiffest fighting of the who e campaign, the German attacks between Mateur and Teburba, south of Bizerta appear to be now weakening, and a way to be re-opening lor a drive to Tunis. Frenr L Capture Position

(Rec. 12.40.) LONDON, Dec. 14 According to the Algiers radio, Frencn troops have captured an important position westward of Bidi Bousid, wmeh is seventy miles westward of Sfax, in Tunisia, to which it is connected by road. French forces besieged the position for two days. Then- they attacked with bayonets. The Germans were routed after fierce hand-to-hand fighting. One hundred prisoners were'taken LONDON, Dec. 13. On Sunday night the Morocco radio broadcast frpm the French forces a communique stating: “There is nothing to report, as bad weather has prevented operations.” Armoured patrol fighting near iMedjez El Bab is described by a correspondent with the advanced forces in Tunis. During Friday, the correspondent said the main Allied force regrouped on high ground near Medjez. This is a natural defensive position, which the Allies occupied a fortnight ago. The Allies still hold the town of Medjez. The Germans yesterday did not attempt a big attack on the town, but sent small groups of tanks on reconnaissance, most of which were driven off by armoured patrols. One armoured

unit brought back over 100 prisoners. Heavy rains reduced many roads to, quagmires, making transport of supplies and ammunition difficult, and supplies have been dropped bv paiachute, whe n roads are completely impassable. Allied regrouping would appear to have been caused by supply problems as well as geographical and air disadvantage. The activity of the German forces has also lessened considerably, as the result of the weather. An. Allied Forces Headquarters communique, with reference to North Africa, states: Our advance, forces conducted patrols vesterdav in forward areas, Enemy efforts to infiltrate north and south of Medjez el Bab were stooped. Further reports of the engagement on December 11, in which our troops repulsed a column advancing from the north shore, indicate that a hundred of the enemy were killed and we captured over 50 prisoners. Our casualties were comparatively low ..... On Friday and Satiurday Spitfires on patrol over the northern battlefield area attacked enemv tanks, motor vehicles and infantry with good effect Flying Fortresses, escorted bv Lightnings, bombed the docks at Tunis yesterday. Manv hits were seen or the docks, and large fires were started. An enemv sunly ship was also hit In the southern area. Lightnings carried out sweeps and offensive patrols In the course of which they destroyed one Italian bomber and one ..German fighter. They also attacked c railroad engine near Sfax. and enemy vehicles on the roads. One of our aircraft was lost. During- Friday night, two enemv bombers were destroyed. • On Friday night bombs burst ovei the whole Palermo harbour. Twc large calibre bombs fell on the customs house and naval auay. There were manv explosions and fires, Im wireless telegraphy station at Tnpol was bombed, and vehicles ,and pei sonnet machine-gunned. Flying througl thick banks of clouds and rain-storms fighter! patrols on Saturday continuec to provide an air umbrella over the battle area. In a dusk attack on Gabes railway station and an aerodrome

on Fridav, a large building was hit and two violent explosions occurrec at the station. A medium sized merchantman i n Tunis harbour was attacked. On Fridav, Allied aircraft attacked the railway and other installations in the Gabes area. Naples was again attacked and mny fire: were caused. Docks at Palermo wen attacked, and many explosions ant fires were observed. Allied aircraft in a raid on Trinoli. attacked trans port. on the roads. An enemv bombei was brought down in the sea neai Pantelleria. No allied aircraft art missing from these operations. British parachutists dropped a weel ago 25 miles south-east of Tunis havi returned to the! British lines. The? did considerable damage in enem? territory, including a raid befori dawn on Tuesday on an airfield 11 miles from Tunis. Thev destroyed fivj or six enemy aircraft on the ground The Germans sent tanks against them some of these being destroyed Even

tually, having exhausted their supply of explosives, the parachutists decided to return to the British lines, which involved an 80-miles’ march. A correspondent with advanced British troops in Eastern Tunisia reports that British parachutists dropped a week before far in the territory held bv the enemv returned to their own lines two days ago. Dropped •about 25 miles south-east of Tunis, they headed towards the capital, shooting up enemy transport coming from the south. The Germans seni out tanks, armoured cars, and lorry loads of infantry in an endeavour to round them up. The parachutists knocked out two tanks and three lorries in one skirmish on December 7. In the early hours of December 8 they raided the airfields at Sena, six miles from Tunis. Five or six ’planes on the ground were destroyed, and stores set on fire. Running short of explosives, they decided to return to the British lines through the mountains, 80 miles away. They marched at night; and Arabs gave them food and warned where the Germans were. The battle for supplies continues. While the enemy attempts to interfere with Allied reinforcements from Algerian bases, Allied warships and aircraft harass enemy supply routes between Italy and the coast of Africa. Axis strength in Tunisia is increasing. A British submarine in the Mediterranean obtained torpedo hits on four merchant vessels, carrying troops or supplies to Tunisia. Another submarine destroyed or damaged two trains on the Italian coast, besides shelling and damaging oil tanks and demolishing a factory chimney. This submarine also: sank an anti-submar-ine schooner, a former French merchant vessel of 2,000 tons manned by Germans. Greek naval headquarters announce that a Greek submarine torpedoed and sank h large enemy supply ship in the eastern Mediterranean. The Admiralty reports an armed enemy merchant vessel was torpedoed

and sunk. Another a large enemy tanker b™g burn t by cepted and attacked. One medium size was torpedoed and blew up. The other,, a smaller vessel, was destroyed by bunfire. In addition these known successes, three torped hits were scored on an convoy of two supply ships and three d ? s j* oy £ ers, attacked within thirty miles of Naples. It was.not possible to observe the full results .of this attack. ' British submarines have also attacked shipping in the enemy s iripolitanian anchorages. At Burat, one submarine surfaced within gun range and opened fire on supply vessels Two were damaged. At Nas Ali a submarine torpedoed ammunition barges lying alongside the pier. A hit was. followed by heavy explosions. 4

Large French Forces

BEING RAISED IN NORTH AFRICA HALF MILLION POSSIBLE (Rec. 12.15) NEW The “New York Times” Washington correspondent, Mr Harold pallender, says: British and American forces are now concentrating upon strengthening their military resources in the French North African territories in order to give the French people the satisfaction of seeing a sizeable French Armv battling against Axis forces. A well-informed military authority here estimates that there are 150,000 well-trained French and native troops in French North Africa These troops are first class, but they lack adequate arms, especially anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns The authority expresses the opinion that a force of five hundred thousand can be created within a year in North Africa by calling up new classes and mobilising trained .reserves. Moreover he said, 8000 experienced French pilots fled to Africa after the fall of France. They would form the nucleus for a revived French air force. General Giraud had already begun to mobilise the fighting resources of North Africa. He was expected to assemble a formidable army to assist in the recovery and defence of French territories.

NORTH AFRICAN FRENCH.

FORMING MODERN ARMY LONDON, Dec. 13.

According to the Morocco radio, General Boisson declared: The situation has been clarified in our country. Our task is certain. We have but one dut y,—to work, prepare and iignt when the time comes. We have only one aim—common victory. The discussions between West Africa and tpe Allied leaders have been .earned ou - t in an atmosphere worthy of the motives— complete understanding and cordiality. French sovereignty has been safeguarded, similarly to North Africa. Our aim is liberation of the Mother Country As soon as war materials begin to arrive, a modern army will be formed to participate in the common battles.