TO HOLD GERMANS IN TUNISIA

Grey River Argus, 20 January 1943, Page 5

TO HOLD GERMANS IN TUNISIA

[Aust. & -N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 12.30.) LONDON, Jan. 19. Mr Ward Price, the well-known correspondent of the, "Daily Mail” cabling from Algiers, says:—“The operations of the Eight Army and the First Army in North Africa have thus far been separate campaigns, but, ultimately, they will form the right and left wings of a combined movement to drive the Germans from Tunisia. “There are indications that Marshal Von Rommel will not make a stand in Tripoli, which the Royal Air Force has rendered useless to him as a supply base. He is now drawing his supplies from the ports of Tunisia. From those ports they are being shipped in light craft along the coast to meet his retreating army. It is thought possible that h e intends to join up with General Nehring, when they will try to turn, the Northern Peninsula or Tunis into a Tobruk on a grand scale. “Our commanders are confident of turning the peninsula into a Mediterranean Dunkirk. Though the German position there’ certainly is a strong one, the highest quarters are full of confidence that Allied armies could, hold the enemy in his positions while the Navy and the Air Force were cutting his seaward lifeline.” Mr Ward Price replies: “No” to the question as to whether it would be possible for the First Army to cut off Marshal Von Rommel’s forces at Gabes., He points out that another spell of rainv weather is now due, and it might bog the advancing forces and immobilise their communications. Moreover, such an advance would be exposed to attacks on both of the flanks by the German forces.

While They are Cut off by Sea