CALM BEFORE STORM IN TUNISIA

Grey River Argus, 7 April 1943, Page 5

CALM BEFORE STORM IN TUNISIA

ROMMEL’S METHODICAL RETREAT NORTHWARD

Allied Ring Being Strengthened

TAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 12,40) LONDON, April 6. There is at present a lull in Tl The a iull is described by the Axiscontrolled Paris radio as a calm before the storm. ‘An offensive on the largest scale must be expected shortly,” says the radio. It seems likely that the Fifth American Army intends to launch a large-scale . attack when General Montgomery s offensive begins. The Morocco radio reports. The Afrika Korps has begun a methodical retreat northward along the coastal road. The latest air observations revealed that Marshal Rommel has "entrusted crack troops, German Grenadiers, to fight a delaying rearguard action. It adds: “The Allies have repulsed two German counter-attacks in the approaches to Pichon. Despite all Axis efforts, the Allies are strengthening a ring around the enemy.” DURATION OF CAMPAIGN FROM SIX TO SIXTEEN WEEKS. (Rec 10.0) NEW YORK, April 6. “New York Times” Washington correspondent says: Informed Amei ican military circles are inclined to believe 'that the Tunisian campaign will last anywhere from six weeks to four months, or even longer, the time being dependent on the Axis strategy. If Marshal Rommel decides to attempt to evacuate his troops to Sicily, and if the Allied campaign goes well, the war in North Africa might conceivably end in six or eight weeks. On the contrary if the Allies get all the bad breaks and if Marshal Rommel makes a last ditch stand, the campaign might draw out to August. Observers are expecting a hard fight but there are no signs of undue pessimism. American Attack CONTINUED ON GABES ROAD. LONDON, April 5. The comparative lull which descended on the land fronts in ’Tunisia was broken on Sunday only by the American Fifth Army, which drove back stiff opposition and decreased somewhat its distance from the Eighth Army by the capture of two hills on the El Guetar-Gabes road, enabling an advance south-east-wards. A The operation illustrates the difficulty of the terrain over which the Americans are operating between Gafsa and Maknassi and which strongly protects the rear of Rommel’s position in the Wadi Akarit. The countryside consists of a tangle of ravines and. gullies between high hills and is ideal for prolonged defence aided by deep minefields and concealed artillery. Tank attempts to break through are likely to result in uneconomic losses, the only alternative being a series of carefully planned infantry assaults which would' “dutwinkle” the enemy, enabling a gradual advance. The Germans are defending these strategic heights with cra'ck troops and skilfully emplaced 88 m.m. guns and mortars. These defences dominate cunningly laid minefields strewing the valley floor, which runs towards the coast road where Rommel is concentrating in an attempt to prevent an Anglo-American junction. The American forces, strongly supported by artillery are making a big attack on the Gabes-Gafsa road. They fere now thirty-eight miles from the Eighth Army. A North African Allied communique stated: American forces on Sunday continued attacks against strong opposition in the El Guetar sector. Enemy counter-attacks in this sector were repulsed and prisoners taken. Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters says: The Americans, showing an admirable offensive spirit, overcame a German hill garrison and later repulsed the inevitable counterattack inflicting heavy casualties and taking prisoners. The Americans are still battling forward in a “hot corner” in the area east of Maknassi where the Germans are equally fiercely, resisting, but there is no confirmation of reports from Berlin that the Americans are attacking and attempting a drive from the Maknassi hills. The German News Agency reports heavy swaying battles east of Maknassi. where Americans are attempting to debouch to the plains. Algiers Radio opening a new German transmission warned the Afrika Korps that there is no escape from the trap in North Africa. “You must choose between death and captivity” declared 'the Radio.

Eighth Army EXPECTED TO RESUME ATTACK. LONDON, April 5. Press despatches from Tunisia suggest that a resumption of the Eighth Army’s offensive is imminent. Heavy British batteries on Sunday night shelled Marshal Rommel’s rearguard in the coastal sector at. Wadi Akant. General Montgomery has concentrated powerful itank forces at Oudret. five miles south of Oadi. . The German News Agency stated: The Eighth Army has carried out additional concentrations in tne Oudref area. British assault divisions pushed spearheads towards Marshal Rommel’s defence, after clearing extensive minefields. German commentators predict early large-scale , operations asserting General Montgomery is putting down a ring of artillery-fire on the Axis outer defences in the Wadi Akant and also that he is concentrating tanks further northward. Morocco radio said: The Eighth Army continues to probe Marshal Rommel's defences on the Wadi Akarit. British artillery has been shelling the German positions. NORTH SECTOR. LONDON, April 5. An Allied North Africa communique stated: On the British First Army’s front, our patrols were again active and there was some artillery activity on both sides, when enemy motor transport and infantry were severely handled. Reuter’s Agency reported: There has been, chiefly! patrol activity in the northern sectors. Algiers Radio stated: The First Army advanced beyond Cap. Serrat without meeting serious resistance." .There has been considerable artillery fire on the Medjez el Bab front where enemy troops and transport, suffered heavily. Better weather enabled an increase in the Allied air activity) resulting in many air combats. T^ e . main Allied force, which is still driving along the road to Mateur, has gained a good deal of ground. A second thrust is making progress along the coast, and on Sunday Allied troops were reported to

havfi occupied Cap Serrat, 40 miles from Bizerta. The force includes French troops and Moroccans. jhe enemy had withdrawn from Cap Serrat and correspondents report that they are withdrawing from other places in the northern sector, often leaving behind large quantities oi materials. Forecasting early Allied offensives the German News Agency say|s: “The British at Mejez el Bab have completed regrouping after the inclusion of the Ist Infantry Division, which has hitherto not appeared on the northern front. There has been a considerable strengthening of artillery." FIRST ARMY REINFORCED. (Rec. 8.40) LONDON, April b. A “Daily Telegraph” correspondent with the Allied Headquarters sa'ys: The First Army’s recent advances in mountainous country in North Tunisia, with mist and rain hampering the use of heavy armour, promises well for the future. General} Andersoin held (North Tunisia for nearly three months with a sketchy force of men and material under the roughest! conditions, the men daily bailing out dugouts and emplacements. To-day the position is altered. Heavy rain has ceased. General Anderson has been strongly reinforced by troops and tanks. He also has received the French Nineteenth Corps, whom the First Army technicians in the last two months have been instructing in the use oi armour, equipment and weapons supplied from the Allied pool ” TUNIS SHORT OF FOOD (Rec. 10.0) NEW YORK, April (5. A “New York Times” correspondent, Mr Sulzberger says: In the city of Tunis a condition' near to famine exists. The civilian population of Bizerta has been evacuated to suburban and resort districts, according to an eye-witness who has arrived at the North African headquarters, who stated that there had been no meat available in Tunis since January. Bread was rationed to one hundred and eighty grams per head daily. Long queues were constantly at the food shops. The Germans had taken dvei’ big hotels and other establishments. Strict guards were preventing anyone approaching them. After a brief moment of triumph when Axis troops arrived, the Italian population’s enthusiasm vastly diminished, being now replaced by long faces and pessimism. Axis wounded were so numerous that, civilian hospitals were handling an overflow. Allied Air Operations NAPLES BOMBED. RUGBY, April 5. Extensive air operations, yesterday, included bombing enemy airfields by medium and light bombers i and lighter-bombers, attacks on' enemy vehicles, and many lighter offensive sweeps. B2s’s Mitchells attacked a convoy in the Sicilian Straits and a small vessel off the south-west coast of Sardinia. In the course of the day’s operations; three enemyj machines were destroyed. Five of ours are missing. An attack by heavy bombers on the harbour and dock area of Naples is reported in to-day’s North African communique .which says that several ships were hit in the harbour, targets in the dock area were hit, and many aircraft destroyed on the ground. The 8.8. C. correspondent in North Africa says that nearly 100 Flying Fortresses carried out the attack, the lirst to be made on the mainland of Europe by aircraft from North Africa. The attack was concentrated into a quarter of an hour. Ten ships were hit including two > liners, three submarines and a repair ship. Twenty-seven enemy aircraft were mt on an airfield. All the Fortresses returned safely. The Fortresses also attacked shipping at Carloforte on the south-west coast of Sardinia, when a coaster and more small vessels were hit, and several fires started in the dock area. An Italian communique states that 221 people were killed and 387 injured at Naples. It adds that Allied planes also attacked Syracuse l , Palermo, and Carloforte. Considerable damage was done at Naples and Syracuse.

RAIDS ON NAPLES AND .PALERMO. (Rec. 11.45) LONDON, April 6A British air communique from Cairo reports: Heavy bombers at dusk last Sunday attacked Naples. At least two harbour moles were directly hit. A night bombing attack was also more on Palermo. No Allied planes are missing? ENEMY SUPPLY SHIPS SUNK (Rec. 11.54) LONDON, April 6 A successful surprise attack on <a strongly-escorted convoy of three enemy supply ships _by light coastal forces of the Royal Navy during a sweep off Tunisia on - the night of Wednesday, March 31, is reported in an Admiralty communique. One supply ship was torpedoed from close range, and was seen to' sink. Another was twice torpedoed. Although it was not seen to sink, its destruction is practically certain. The action caused such confusion among the enemy escort ships that theyl fired on each other., The Allied forces suffered no casualties or damage. AXIS SHIPPING SHORTAGE. LONDON, April 5. A dispatch from the Berlin correspondent of the Swiss newspaper, “Gazette de Lausanne,” which the German censorship passed, asserts that the Axis to-day is suffering severely in its efforts to supply the North African forces because the best part of Italy’s merchant fleet was confiscated in neutral and enemy ports when Italy; entered the war. The dispatch adds that British submarines are taking toll of Italian ships in the Mediterranean, but this “would not be serious had Italy not lost a large part of her most modern merchantmen. Admiral Doenitz's recent visit to Italy can be connected with the Axis efforts to free ' traffic between Italy and Tunisia from pressure which is not negible.”

De Gaulle Dropped ? BRITAIN LINES UP WITH U.S.A. LONDON, April 5. The French National Committee issued a statement that “General Eisenhower has asked General de Gaulle to delay the journey to North Africa. General de Gaulle and the National Committee regret this delay, which could not be prolonged without serious disadvantages. General de Gaulle and several members of the National Committee have been ready for some days to leave for Al-

giers to re-establish the unity of the Empire, which was necessitated by national interest and demanded byFrench opinion at home and overseas.” According to the Fighting trench Headquarters, General Eisenhower gave military considerations for the request to General de Gaulle to postpone his visit. General Eisenhower said he was unable to turn aside to political considerations, when events in 'Tunisia were marching towards a climax. (Rec. 9.20) NEW YORK, April 6. The “New York Times” Washington correspondent says: “Responsible observers believe that the postpone'ment of. General de Gaulle’s visit to North Africa had arisen from a British decision, and not through a request from General Eisenhower. T'he move is associated with Mr Eden’s return to London. It was hinted, earlier, that one of the immediate results of Mr Eden’s Washington conferences would probably be a change in the British policy towards General de Gaulle, bringing it in line with the American policy of opposing a central French authority which Gen. de Gaulle desires. The American view is that Gen. de Gaulle and Gen. Giraud should unite forces in purely a military sphere, and that the time has not yet come to create a French Provisional Government, because there firstly are apparently still political differences between Gen. Giraud and Gen. de Gaulle; and secondly, that recent '.evienfc ■ have shown that if there is' political unity both Gen. Giraud and Gen. de Gaulle are ambitious for leadership.

OPTION TO GO TO MEXICO SPANISH REPUBLICANS (Rec. 10.45) LONDON, April 6. The Algiers radio Reports: The Mexican Government has agreed to accept all Spanish Republican refugees at present in North Africa and West Africa. There were more than three thousand in prison camps in Algeria and Morocco at the end of January, but half of them have been released. The remainder will be released. They will be given the option of going to Mexico.