TUNISIAN AFTERMATH

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1943, Page 3

TUNISIAN AFTERMATH

War Material Put in Order

CLEARING UP BATTLEFIELD

[Aust. N.Z. Cable Assn. J LONDON, May 16.

The work of clearing up the battlefield in Tunisia continues. Prisoners are being sent to the west, and unused war material, both that of the Aines and the enemy, is being put in order. What would have happened had the Axis attempted a Dunkirk from North Africa was described by a naval commentator 10-night. Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, he said, had instructed units to be in readiness to attack on receipt of the code signal “Operation retribution.” This said the naval officer, was the perfect code word. In Tunis conditions are gradually getting back to normal. The food situation has improved and the bread ration is douoled. A correspondent says that food has been very scarce in Tunis. Coupons allowed each person Jib of bread a day but no milk or meat was available for the ordinary population. Everything had gone to the Axis Iroops. There is no electricity yet. but one cinema is open and the Axis forces did not have time to destroy the water svstem. A curfew operates from 8 p.m. 'to 6 a.m. Tunis is still a' city of exultation.

ISLANDS CAPTURED. LONDON, May 17. It is announced in Algiers that British naval units occupied Zemba Island, ten miles from Cape Bon peninsula, and captured 190 Germans.

VON ARNIM TO HAVE COMFORTABLE HOME.

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l (Rec. 9.55.) LONDON, May IS. The “Daily Mail” says that General Von Arnim, until the end of the war, will live in a comfortable country home with spacious, well-guarded grounds. It is technically called a ‘‘camp”. H’3 will have a prisoner batman'. Marshal Messe will be housed several miles away. Under international law, the Generals will live under the same conditions as British Generals in the mess. General Von Arnim will thus fare better than Herr Hess, who is regarded as a civilian internee.

BLAMEY’S CONGRATULATIONS TO

FREYBERG.

P,A, WELLINGTON, May, 18. An exchange of telegrams between General Blarney and General Ereyberg was released to-day by Army Headquarters in Wellington. Genral said: “All ranks of the Australian Army are proud of the magnificent .part ■ our brother Anzacs played in the glorious victory in North Africa. We send good luck, best wishes, and congratulations to you all.” General Freyberg replied: “I am sure that the smashing defeat of the Axis here in Africa, to which the A.I.F. made a magnificent contribution, is the beginning of an advance to final victory in all theatres of war. The spirit of Anza'c lives on here as in -the Pacific. Good luck to all under your command, from the Second N.Z.E.F.”

SINKING OF AXIS VESSELS. (Rec. 10.40) LONDON. May IS. It is officially announced in Algiers that Allied air forces between November 11 and May 13, sank severityone Axis vessels, and probably sank 103 and damaged 120.

AIRCRAFT AND SHIPPING ATTACKED.;

RUGBY, May 17. A North African communique states:—

“Last night, the seaplane base of Lido Di Roma, was attacked by Wellingtons. Bursts were seen among parked aircraft. On Saturday night, Trapani was attacked. Large explosions were observed. Patrols were carried out during, which two enemy aircraft were shot down.” A Middle East air communique stated:—

“Yesterday in daylight,. R.A.F. long-range fighters attacked an enemy schooner on the* east coast of Greece. The vessel was abandoned, listing badly. A smaller enemy ship was also damaged. One of our aircraft is missing.”

PALERMO BOMBED.

LONDON, Mav 16

The only operations officially reported from North Africa are normal air patrols -yesterday, and an attack by Wellingtons on Palermo, in Sicily, the previous night. . Last night, when Axis aircraft raided the Algerian port of Bone, they met a violent anti-aircraft barrage, and several were destroyed.

N.Z. Division

HON F. JONES’S VISIT.

LAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.J LONDON, May 17.

Twenty-two hours, after leaving Cairo, the .New Zealand Defence Minister, Mr. Jones, arrived in England. He flew; in a Liberator bomber which made one landing during the flight, when it stayed three hours at Algiers. There wer e not seats m the Liberator, so the Minister flew under service conditions, and slept occasionally on inatresses. Mr. Jones commented: “We were reasonably comfortable and I certainly have had worse trips.” He was delighted with his experiences when visiting the N.Z.E.F. He found the men “very tired but cheerful. The Minister expressed the opinion that thev appreciated the Government sending someone to visit them in the forward area Mr. Jones stated he had had most helpful talks with General Freyberg whom he bad not seen since General Freyberg left New Zealand with the N.Z.E.F. Mr. Jones was much impressed by the “wonderful organisation ’ built up in connection with the Division and he praised particularly the medical work of Dr. McCormick and also the work of Dr. Kendrick. He added that there were very little -teard oi units doing good work. For instance the port detachment unit at Suez which was responsible for reducing pilfering of goods sent from New Zealand from 15 to 1 per cent. _ The same applied to a unit at Tripoli. Mr. Jones said: “Everywhere I went.' I heard the warmest tributes by our men to the work of the R.A.F. of which thev could not speak too highly. We once saw. 600 sorties pass over Headquarters in one mornino-. and as our bovs said ‘they are all 'our own brand.’ ” Since returning to London. Mi. Jones has: met Mr. Attlee and :ur. Bevin, who were very interested to hear his experiences.