N.Z. FORCES IN TRIPOLI

Grey River Argus, 25 January 1943, Page 5

N.Z. FORCES IN TRIPOLI

A Welcome Change FROM DESERT CONDITIONS, i —— I IN THE VAN OF EIGHTH ARMY. ! (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) '■ (Rec. 8.50.) CAIRO, Jan. 22. ' New Zealand forces now in Tripoli 1 have covered a distance of more than | the length of New Zealand in the ( Eighth Army’s race from the El Ala- | mein line. They travelled faster than I anv other troops. They covered j greater distances with their brilliant I southern sweep than of any of GenI eral Montgomery’s units, and still ; they were among the first into Tri- ; poll. The New Zealandres’ part in the ! Eighth Army’s brilliantly-conceived ■ and relentlessly-executed offensive has been throughout one of the greatest importance. From the time the 1 New Zealanders played such a vital part in the cracking of Marshal Von Rommel’s El Alameiik line, they have, ['fortunately, not been engaged in any I minor battles. They have continued their relentless pursuit of the fleeting Axis troops. Once General Montgomery decided to launch his attack on the Buerat defences, in the last offensive which threw Marshal Von Rommel from Tripolitania, New Zealanders were again in General Montgomery’s last and vital advance. With British armour and with their own divisional cavalry, they surged ahead, and nothing could stoo them. And now they are in Tripoli, which has been one of the main objectives of the Middle East command for so long. The New Zealanders are now in a country which is like a paradise compared with the desert wastes of Cyrenaica and the wilderness of Tripolitania, wherein, during the past eighty days, they had been forging ahead. Since they entered a rich cultivated coastal belt below Misurata, our troops have seen ample evidence of the care bestowed by the Italians on the showpiece of their North African Empire. Thev have been welcomed both by Italian colonists and Arabs, whose clean-looking villages, against a setting of gi#?at olive groves, dot the countryside? An occasional embarrassed Fascist salute is in strong contrast to a courteous Arab greeting of the Sayeda. Within hours, an eager trade was going on. eggs and vegetables being bartered for tea and sug-. ar.

New Zealand airmen are scattered over fighter and bomber squadrons in the Middle East Air Eofces, and in torpedo-carrying aircraft have contributed theifl part in remorseless efforts of the ground forces, while New eZalanders in the Navy have taken part in the Mediterranean Fleet’s magnificent combined offensive.

Tripoli, which had a pre-war population of well over one hundred thousand, of whom twenty-five thousand were Italians, was damaged to some extent by Allied air raids directed mainly at the harbour and storage centres around the town, but the town, itself has been undamaged for the reason that there are no military targets in the town itself. New Zealand troops who have fought so long and. so hard in. the desert campaigns are thrilled to be among the first to enter blatant Mussolini’s treasured Tripoli. There is an amusing story toli of a New Zealand sentry, who, a fortnight ago, had a yarn with General Freyberg. “How are things going ?” asked the General. The sefttry looked glum. "Fair,” he replied. “Don’t worry. We’ll be in Tripoli about the twenty-fifth ” said General Freyberg. The sentry reflected. “No, that won’t do. Sir,” the sentrv said. “Why ” asked General Freyberg.” “It’s my birthday on the twenty-sec-ond,” answered the sentry. “We’ll see what we can do—we’ll see what we can do,” promised the General with a smile. And the sentry saw tne Union Jack flying over Tripoli on the twenty-second. NAVY SHELLS TUNISIA. (Rec. 7 p.m.) RUGBY, Jan. 23. The Admiralty states: “Early on Saturday morning light forces of the Royal Navy carried out a bombardment of the small port of Zuara. west of Tripoli Good results were achievea large fires and explosions being observed. His Majesty’s ships suffered neither casualties nor damage. Zua'na is thirty-live miles from the Tunisia frontier. The port accommodates little vessels up to seven hundred and fifty tons. The town which is built round an oasis is principally a military station.

GERMAN ADVANCE IN TUNISIA.

MEANT TO CO-ORDINATE WITH

AFRIKA KORPS

LONDON, Jan. 22.

Reporting on th e fignting in Tunisia, the correspondent of the British United Press in Algeria states that the northern; prong of the German thrust south-west of Pont du Fahs has halted before Robaa, but the.southern prong has further advanced and is threatening Ousseltia.

The Algiers correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain, states that the ill-equipped Frencn units had no choice but to withdraw when the Germans made their thrust in central Tunisia.. British tank casualties since the. action began are less than one-third of the German total of seventeen. British infantry and tanks were thrown in on the side of the battered French with the object of preventing Hie Germans consolidating on a ridge running southrwest of Pont du Fahs. Tne Germans obviously aim to establish themselves on the ridge for the new situation which will arise when Rommel’s army reaches Tunisia

FRENCH WITHSTAND ATTACKS.

RUGBY, January 22.

While the Eighth Army has been covering the last few miles to Tripoli with little or no opposition, French Headquarters in North Africa reports that strong enemy armoured forces are attacking the French troops in the Central Tunisia area, between 20 miles south-west of Tunis and 40 miles south-west of Kairouan.

The French communique states: “The enemy resumed the attack south-west of Pont Du Fahs, especially in the direction south-west of Bouarada, and on the mountain plateau of Elkeb’-r, with the support of strong forces and aircraft. The enemy attempts were in vain. Last night a strong attack supported by 50 tanks made progress at Alineldor, 30 miles west of Kairouan. “It is now confirmed that in the battle which has been in progress for the last three days, the enemy is employing considerable forces. Further south-west, we captured in a surprise attack, a height in the area of Fondouk and Daones. Our troops continued pursuit and captured part of thp garrison at Serdeles, which retreated some days ago.” FRENCH MOVEMENTS. NEW YORK, Jan. 22. “Pertinax” understands that it is

.planned to appoint General C'atroux president of a special board whicn will co-ordinate General De Gaulle’s and General Giraud’s movements. General Catroux, instead of General De Gaulle, would go to Algiers to reach an agreement between General Giraud and General De Gaulle. FULL BRITISH VICTORY IN AFRICA. CONCEDED BY THE (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, Jan. 23. Immediately after an Italian communique broke the news, of Tripoli's fall to the Italians, tne Rome radio stateed that the great battle wn—* Italy had ofught for the last thirtytwo months on the African coasts on the Mediterranean had now endeu., Britain had gathered masses of men and of material from all quarters of her Empire. In November 1940, the 1 Italians had to 'fall back, suffering) enormous losses. The announcer, 1 after reviewing the swaying battle up to El Alamein, added: “Reinforcements then poured in to the enemy, and our final bound to the Nile was made impossible. The British -ad the advantage of the neighoouring norts and the rich resources of hinterland. The Axis forces, having severely been mauled by their preceding victorious effort, had to fignt with the miles of the desert behind them.” He added: “The enemy can justly claim the victory, but he nas paid dearly for it.”

ITALIAN U-BOAT SUNK

RUGBY, January 22

The Admiralty states: "During successful operations by our light coastal farces off Tripoli on • Tuesday night, an Italian U-boat was sunk. While approaching the harbour shortly before midnight, the Üboat was sighted on the surface in the company of three tugs. The tugs cast off- abandoning the U-boat which was immediately destroyed. One tug was set on fire and driven ashore. The fate of the others, whichl were frequently bit, is not known, as they escaped in the darkness while our forces proceeded to press home the attack on the harbour works. They came under heavy hut. ineffectual gunfire from the harbour defences. Superficial damage was suffered and two men were wounded.

M. PEYROUTEWS GOVERNORSHIP

PRESS CRITICISM

LONDON, Jan. 22. The Washington correspondent ol the “New York Times” states that M. Peyrouten’s appointment as Gov-ernor-General of Algiers has caused marked misgivings and no enthusiasm in informed quarters in Washington, but there is a disposition to assume that Lieutenant-General Eisenhower had reasons for approving.

Far from improving the political mix-up in French North Africa the situation has grown worse by the appointment! as Governor General of Algieria) of M. Peyrouten, who is heartily disliked in Britain and America; There is a chorus raised here demanding who appointed Peyrouten and much of his unsavoury past is recalled, including his declaration in April, 1941, that “only madmen believe in a British victory, r'he 'Axis is bound to win.” The “Manchester Guardian’s” diplomatic correspondent observes: “It is difficult t 0 escape the conclusion that M. Peyrouten’s appointmenit is nothing less than a deliberate bid to forestal the very necessary reformation in French North Africa by establishing a situation which, lor one thing, would make the unification of all French forces fighting tor the liberation of France very difficult to achieve. By entrenching the adherents of Vichy behind a very prominent influential position, their political preponderance would be assured. |

M. Peyrouten’s appointment is certainly not without political significance. The responsibility for this step cannot be attributed entirely to the Allied military authorities, or Giraud. The “Daily Herald” (Labour) expresses the view that Peyrouten’,s appointment is <a political blunder of the first erder, made m the teeth of a warning protest. The “Daily Herald” declares: “It makes nonsense of all we have been told of our intentions and purposes.' The more that is learned of the position in North Africa, and the views and attitude of the lighting h'rench, the more it is felt there will be no satisfactory outcome until Britain and America take a stronger stand. When General Eisenhower arrived in North Africa he found that not having brought a group of trained people who could take over the civil administration —as do the .Nagis i when they enter a country—he had . to rely on French officials, who. as a whole, were men wh 0 preferred to: save their own skins instead tft | France. What they desire now is, to gain a position of importance whereby after the war they can as-| pire to rule France. But neither Britain nor America desires to establish any group or person for this role, but ensure a freed France to make her own choice. It is difficult to escape the nausea from these politicians who are squabbling among themselves instead of sinking ences and getting on with the light and freeing their country, It is also a fact that the Fighting Irench could be more helpful.

PEYROUTEN’S ABILITY

MILITARY LEADERS APPOINT HIM.

(Rec. 9.40) NEW YORK. Jan. 23. The Washington correspondent ol the “New York Times” says: Authoritative military quarters declare that the U.S. State Department takes no responsibility for M. Marcel Peyrouten’s appointment as GovernorGeneral of Algeria. A decision to summon M. Peyrouten from Argentina was made by General Giraud several weeks ago. This decision also was subsequently approved by General Eisenhower! General Giraud, it is reported, regards M. Peyrouten as a skilful administrator, and as being without any pro-German or defeatist bias, in spite of his having had service in the Vichy Cabinet. MARTINIQUE LEADER JOINS DE GAULLE. WASHINGTON, Jan. 22. Fighting French headquarters has announced that Major Sarrat, commander of the French garrison at Martinique, has escaped from there and has joined the forces of the Fighting French. The announcement quotes Major Sarrat as saying that since the American landings in North Africa the bulk of the French in Martinique are openly hostile to the Vichy Government. Several hundred persons petitioned Admiral Robert the French High Commissioner for Martinique, and urged the entry of Martinique into the fighting against the Axis. GIFT TO GOERINGu ~~RUGBY, Jan. 22. The Vichy Government has . officially presented Goering with the famous Reredos Callee (Mystic Lamb) masterpiece by Hubert and Jean Van Yck, which belongs to St. Bavon Cathedral, Ghent, and was transferred t 0 France in 1940, entrusted to. the Paris museum for safe peeping. This was disclosed in the latest issue of La Libre Belque. copies of which have just reached London.