ALGIERS CAPITULATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25069, 10 November 1942, Page 3

ALGIERS CAPITULATES

AMERICANS ENTER CITY RAPID PROGRESS ON LAND FRENCH NAVAL RESISTANCE (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 11p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 9. An agreement for the suspension of hostilities in Algiers was signed with Admiral Darlan’s authorisation by the French commander in North Africa and the commanders of the American forces. The armistice provides that the French garrison shall return immediately to their quarters, where they will be confined. They will retain their arms. Order will be maintained in Algiers by the Americans, and the civil authorities will remain at their posts. The suspension of hostilities concerns only the forces occupying the Algiers area, including the districts of Maison Carree, Husseindey, Maison Blanche .and Retourde Chasse. Reports reaching Vichy late last night stated that American forces were overpowering French resistance at a dozen points. The Americans were -widening their bridgeheads and preparing to land tanks and artillery from some 70 ships. The losses on both sides had been small. There is heavy fighting at some landing points, but operations elsewhere are progressing rapidly, says the correspondent of the British .United Press with the United States Expeditionary Force. French naval units have put up the stiffest resistance, but there is no indication that the bulk of the French Navy is yet operating, and resistance is confined to Algiers, Oran, and the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Elsewhere the Americans immediately thrust into the interior. The Maison Blanche and Bleda aerodromes, hear Algiers, were captured early in the day. Allied aircraft immediately moved into them. No heavy air activity is reported over the whole area, although there have been some attacks against shipping. Stiff opposition, the correspondent adds, was encountered from the coastal batteries at Oran and Algiers. French naval units emerged from the harbours, but were immediately engaged by British and American forces under Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, and retired after suffering some losses. The correspondent of the Associated Press with the Americans says the Lasenia airfield at Oran is still in enemy hands and fighting there is confused and scattered. The western Atlantic task force encountered heavy opposition from light naval forces. The Algiers coastal batteries sank two Allied vessels in the harbour, but Allied battleships silenced the batteries.

A communique issued at Rabat says: The Anglo-Saxons at dawn attacked a number of points on the Atlantic coast and landed a small number of troops in the regions of Sidi Fedhala and Port Lautey. Casablanca was violently bombarded from the sea and air, but local defenders everywhere are holding the enemy. Reinforcements are on the way. , The Vichy radio says one well-placed machine-gun held up the Americans for some time on the rocky road between SidiFearuch and Algiers and nearly 100 Americans fell there.

MORE LANDINGS AIRFIELDS OCCUPIED VERY LITTLE RESISTANCE (Rec. 7 p.m.) RUGBY, Nov. 8. A communique from Allied headquarters states: “The landings by United States forces on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of French North Africa are proceeding according to plan. Several important airfields have been occupied by the army air force and the R.A.F. Ranger units are participating in the operation. The lack of resistance encountered on most beaches indicated that French armed forces in North Africa had no desire to oppose the entry of American troops into this territory. "The forces that landed in the early hours of to-day are advancing rapidly, and other landings continue. Resistance appears to have been mainly confined to the navy and coast defence artillery. Owing to the confused nature of the fighting the precise results are not known. “ Our naval forces are in control and have suffered no losses, except two small ships which entered Oran harbour. Yesterday one of our transports was torpedoed and disabled, but our troops on board her, under their commander, who refused to be idle during the operation, took their light landing craft, and continued towards their objective 120 miles away.” Sitrength of Forces The Vichy radio reported that a second contingent of United States troops landed at Oran. The radio stated that the Allied forces landing in North Africa are estimated at a total of 140,000. The Berlin radio, quoting a Vichy report, declared: “The entire French naval forces are under steam at Toulon awaiting sailing orders. The radio added that Marseilles was in a state of preparedness. Another Vichy report, quoted by Berne, says that French warships were in action at Oran. Government circles at Vichy declared unofficially that the American attacks against French North African territory constituted an act of war. The relations between Vichy and the United States therefore “in practice have been broken.” Beyond General Eisenhower's terse announcement of the landings the news of the North-west African operations is restricted to Axis and neutral sources. It is emphasised in London that the operations are “an American show,” with British assistance. Algiers Surrounded The latest despatch from Vichy states that the Allied forces which landed east and west of Algiers have now encircled the city and are proceeding to surround the Governor’s palace, one mile and a-half from the centre of the city. The Vichy Cabinet decided that the United States, in carrying the war to French territory, has de facto broken off relations with France.

AMERICA’S AIM LIBERATION OF FRANCE REASONS FOR PAST POLICY (Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 8. The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, listed the five main purposes for past collaboration with Vichy as follows: 1. To pave the way and prepare the background in the most effective manner for sending a military expedition to the western Mediterranean to assist the British operations further east. i 2. To give the United States week by week an opportunity of gaining highly important information virtually from inside German-controlled areas and from North Africa regarding Axis • subversive activities and other important phases of the international situation. 3. To keep alive the basic concepts of freedom for the French people, and to look to the ultimate restoration of French free institutions as they existed before the German occupation. 4. The retention of the closest personal touch with all phases of the Franco-German situation under tne French-German armistice, including resistance to increased German pressure on France and constant efforts to prevent the delivery of the French neet or any part thereof to Germany, or the giving of military support to Germany.. 5. Maintenance of the closest relations with the French people and encouragement of leadership in opposition to Hitlerism. Those persons who had been concerned over the United States Government policy toward Vichy, said Mr woui d now be able to see the entire content of that policy, which was directed ultimately at the liberation of France. The British and Canadian Governments whole-heart-edly favoured and supported the policy.

An' official Vichy announcement claim* that the French battleship Bevier either sank or severely damaged an American destroyer which was carrying Rangers 10 miles offshore from Algiers. Another Vichy despatch says fighting is proceeding between Arzeu and Oran. French troops are making a strong effort to reduce the bridgeheads at Safi and The American occupation of Arzeu cuts Oran’s road and rail coastal communications with Algiers. The operations at Boudfer, which is 10 miles south-west of Oran, suggest outflanking movements aimed at cutting off the naval base.

The Morocco radio to-night broadcast a communique stating that the enemy was held everywhere. Reinforcements are on the way and will reach assigned positions during the night.