AXIS FORCES ENCIRCLED

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1943, Page 5

AXIS FORCES ENCIRCLED

ALL ALLIED ARMS DRIVE ON

TIP OF CAPE BON REACHED Freyberg Seeks Italian Surrender

xi ~ '■ ““ iAust.'& N.Z Cable Assn.J (Rec. 1.0.) LONDON.. May All Axis troops in Tunisia are now encircled—those within Cape Bon by the First Army and those outside by the French and Eighth Army. The French Nineteenth Corps, after breaking through the German lines northward of Zaghouan pushed their armour through the gap to the sea through the direction of Bouficha, thus completing the encirclement of the Axis forces still trying to oppose the Eighth Army’s advance up the coast The. British armour now controls the whole coastal area between Hammamet and Ben Aichouan, eighteen miles to the north-east. HO.) LONDON, May 12 According to a report received m New York from Algiers an Allied spokesman announced that the British force has reached the ■ - tip of Cape Bon Peninsula. An Kai ian communique states that general Messe rejected a surrender proposal from General Freyberg. SURRENDER TO FRENCH RUGBY, May H-

A French special communique states- German forces in the Zag houan area asked, the Fiwhcjmander for an armistice. The Frenc.i terms of unconditional surrender and the handing over of. the entire German war materials, were accepted. Prisoners taken in Tunisia since Mav 5 may have reached 100,001) ac % to the Algiers radto reports which add enemy resistance m Cap Bon Peninsula seems to be ceasing. grombalia captured LONDON, May li. Allied forces in Tunisia have captured Grombalia, about down the neck of the Cap Bon Peninsula, and Soliman, a few miles nside the peninsula proper, on tne north coast. In a strip of territory about 20 miles square, just south 01 the peninsula, enemy infantiy ciie putting up the last stages ol resistance. To the east is the sea. south the Eighth Army, and to the west French forces. To the noit British armoured forces are rapidly cutting them off from the enemy forces in the peninsula. lhe armoured column driving down the neck of the peninsula from the north n within 15 miles of Hammamet on the south coast of the peninsula Coirespondents say that the enemy troops in the peninsula are in a hopeles. position. They, are completely blockaded. AXIS FORCES SPLIT IN TWO. LONDON, May 11.

The last Axis forces under arms in Tunisia have been split in two. The Cap Bon Peninsula has now been sealed off, and the enemy troops on it are entirely cut off both by land and sea; This is revealed in to-day s Allied-communique, which says that the First Army, yesterday made a complete break through in the IJamman Lif area and advanced right across the base of the Peninsula, capturing Soliman, Grombalia, and Menzel bou Zalfa. By the evening; they had reached the outskirts of Hammamet, on ’the eastern side ol the Peninsula. Allied aircratt attacked the Axis forces on the Peninsula' from dawn to dusk, causing heavv casualties. Large fires were seen on the peninsula last night.. Parties of the enemy trying to escape bvl sea are still being mopped up. There is no further news of the Axis infantry force cut off south of the peninsula. , , ~ Air Marshal Coningham and General Alexander yesterday visited the Tunis-Bizerta area. It is officially announced in Berlin that von Arnim is still with his troops in Tunisia. Raid on Marsala PANTELLARIA ALSO BOMBED RUGBY, May *ll. A special Allied Headquarters North Africa communique states: Very strong forces of heavy bombers escorted by over 100 fighters, dropped tons of bombs on the suburbs and port installations- of Marsala, Sicily, in daylight to-day. Direct hits were scored on warehouses. A vessel was set afire. Vast fires were visible as far as the African coast (Cap Bon is 100 miles south-east). Simultaneously, Port Pantellaria underwent a sixth raid in four . days. Two vessels were hit.

MARSHAL ROMMEL ILL? LONDON, May 11. A German High Command statement, quoted by the Berlin radio, says that Rommel was in Germany under medical treatment, when the British offensive commenced at Alamein. He returned to Africa against the advice of his doctors, and had to remain after the landing of Britisli and American forces in French North Africa. Rommel’s health deteriorated and the Fuehrer ordered him, after reaching the Gabes position, to return to Germany. On March 11 he reported to the Fuehrer’s headquarters and received decorations from Hitler, “who will entrust him with a new task after complete recovery.” MESSA.GES TO FORCES. MR CHURCHILL’S CONGRATULATIONS RUGBY, May 11.

The contributing factors to the Allied success in Tunisia form the keynote of the messages sent by Mr Churchill to the Allied Commanders in the battle area. In a message to General Eisenhower Mr Churchill referred to the brilliant result of the Nbrth African campaign .and added: '“Perfect understanding and harmony preserved amongst the shock of war. between the British and United States forces and with our French allies, have proved a solid foundation for victory. The simultaneous advance of the United States Armies side by side into Tunis and Bizerta, is an augury full of hope for the future of the world. Long may they march together, striking down tyrants and oppressors of mankind.” Mr Churchill’s message to General Alexander referred to the brilliant desert campaign carried out by the Eighth Armv which he said had added a glorious chapter to the annals of the British Commonwealth. To Air Marshal Tedder he said: It is certain that victories in Tunisia would never have been gained without the splendid exertion of the Allied Air Force under your ' skilful comprehending direction. In all the messages Mr Churchill asked that his congratulations be extended to others who helped in the campaign. The War Cabinet also sent messages of congratulation to various commanders, including Adiriiral Cunningham, . whose naval forces contributed largely to the victory by their work in the Mediterranean,

General Alexander

MAN OF THE HOUR IN BRITAIN. LONDON, May 11. “History’s new Alexander the Great.’ “The real conqueror of North Africa,” are descriptions given of General Alexander, whose name is being linked with the Tunisian victories. He is the man of the hour in Britain to-day, and newspapers, after devoting columns to General Montgomery for months, are focussing attention on Alexander typical headlines are “How Alexander Did It.” “Our Greatest General.” “Some Talk of Alexander.” General Alexander, who is ol was Lieutenant-Colonel at 25 in the last war and at 45 was the youngest Major-General in the- British Army. He’took command from Lord Gort on Dunkirk beaches, and was the last man to leave. He organised the retreat from Burma, then took over from General Auchinleck when the Eighth Army’s fortunes were at a low ebh. The “'Daily Express” correspondent, Alan Moorehead, commenting on General Alexander’s arrival at El Alamein, said: “He suddenly arrived one day, a slight dusty- figure out of the desert, wearing corduroy trousers, battledress jacket and ordinary field service cap. I doubt it half the All Fed troops had ever heard of 'their new commander, but suddenly you began to see him everywhere.” “The General’s headquarters were moved out into open country. Signals began to pass back and forth at a tremendous rate. Tens of thousands of men found themselves lifted from one place and dumped in another Guns, tanks and workshops switched along the line. Little by little, three Allied armies were sorted out, and Alexander’s order of the plan of battle went into action. Now three months later, you will understand there is great respect for this 51-year-oifl Irishman, who brought up to T’ui nis the largest Allied force assembled lon the Mediterranean since the war ' began.” : Moorehead adds: Genera] Alexander is, not a historical accident or ; surpassing genius, but has the extension of all the normal qualities of the regular! fighting soldier. ,There are no violent contrasts in him and no marked idiosyncracies or prejudices. “His will power and physical stamina are tougher than 'those of most commanders. He is not ascetic. He both drinks and smokes, and has a warm sense of humour. It would be impossible to flurry him. I doubt if the public will ever get to know him intimately.” “In the last resort he is a professional and to him the war is more important than the general.” lan Ha'y pays this tribute to General Alexander, saying he is dependable in a crisis and that he rtSS®

diplomat of the first water. M the British and Americans lande-

Casablanca and Algeria there MBs the delicate problem who should <?be; supreme commander. “Eisenhower was chosen. It was the only selection possible, firstly because the gesture was immensely appreciated in America, and did much to establish cordial relations between the Allied troops. Secondly, because Alexander, with va'st experience and complete mastery of his job, could be just, as effective as Eisenhower’s Chief-of-Staff, as in the supreme, command. It may have been a disappointment to him to miss the final distinction, but he is eminently a soldier who set the cause above the personal prize, so he effaced himself and set to work upon his allotted duty.” His wife, Lady! Alexander, With their children, Rose, Shane, and Brian, aged ten, seven and three, respectively, live at Windsor Forest. The General writes to each child in turn, drawing neat sketches, one which was a tortoise which was apparently the headquarters’ pet.

ALEXANDER’S SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY. RUGBY, Ma v 11. It is now clear that General Alexander’s strategy in driving what the Germans call a “bolt” through the weakened enemy front east of Medjez succeeded in frustrating the enemy’s plan to withdraw most of his forces into Cap Bon. It is thought that the! enemy’s plan was to hold a ring from sea to sea as long as possible, then leave the garrison to hold Bizerta. and pivot the rest of the armies on the Zaghouan mountains and withdraw south and eastwards through Tunis. Forestalling this plan, the First Army, by constant infantry attacks, got astride of Medjerda and were then at the crust of the ring in the centre, where the blow would fall. Victory was thus essentially a success for the First Army. To forestall the anticipated enemy move, however, the; blow had to have extreme speed impetus, so part of the Eighth Army was sent north to add weight, and as a result, the movement of the British armoured forces was as swift as anything accomplished by the Germans in 1940. At 11 a.m. on May 6, the armour was passed through the infantry east of Medjez. In the defence of Tunis were grouped the Goering Regiment and nearly the whole of the 15th Panzer Division. Next morning, however, the British advance elements were in the suburbs of Tunis and that afternoon the city was ours. Some tanks then wheeled north. Near the mouth of the Medjerda they met the Americans from Mateur There it was the German sth Panzer Army which surrendered.

□’hat part of von Arnim’s Command which remained south of the British bolt position at Tunis is the Ist Panzer Army, consisting mostly of Italians, but also remnants of the 10th and 21st Panzers and! the Goering Regiment. It is under the command of the Italian, General Messe. These forces may number 80,000 to 100,000. If the example of Stalingrad is followed, von Arnim has the choice of flight and freedom, or capture and a marshal’s baton.

LESSONS FROM CAMPAIGN. I (Rec. 1.0.) LONDON, Mav 12. The first lesson of Tunisia is that the Germans unlike the British, are not backs to the wall fighters, says the New York “Times” in an editorial. As long as there is hope, of victory the Germans will brave any soldiers, but as soon as the odds turn against them they are quick to throw up their hands. That is what happened in 1918. That is what happened in North Africa. That is what, is likely to happen in Germany, despite Hitler’s Elite Guards. Once the Allied performance in Tunisia is repeated on a proportionate scale in, Europe. The second lesson is that

attack is more promising and less costly than defence. Defence in the African campaign cost the Axis more than 750,000 troops. Allied losses were a fraction of this toll, and counting prisoners, appear to be less than one-tenth. The final lesson is that the Axis catastrophe, coming after Stalingrad, has shaken all Europe, making immediate following up blows against the fortress of Europe imperative, before the impact has worn off.

PRAISE OF DOMINION PREMIERS.

RUGBY, May 11. The Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand and South Africa were .among those telegraphing to Mr Churchill on the occasion ot the Tunisian victory. Mr Curtin on behalf of the Loy eminent and people paid a tribute to the leadership and gallant forces. H adds: “We pray the campaign will be the prelude of a complete and speedy victory.” Mr Mackenzie King and the Canadian Commons record “our admiration for the courage and skill ot the sea. land and air forces of the United Nations so admirably combined into a single fighting unit.” ADMIRATION OF LORDS, RUGBY, May 11. Both the Lords and Commons went into secret session a few minutes before Lord Cranborne and Mr Attlee made their war statements in the respective Houses. * Lord Cranborne concluded his statement by expressing the admiration of the House?, and rendering the thanks to the men of the United tions who played a part in the signal victory. Lord Addison described the victory as “an achievement not surpassed by any previous example.” It spoke volumes for the organisation and cooneration with which the different branches of supply and other services have been trained and exercised. Lord Samuel paid a special tribute to the “tenacity, foresight and efficient direction” of Mr Churchill.