THE LULL IN TUNISIA

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXII, Issue 15241, 6 January 1943, Page 3

THE LULL IN TUNISIA

BRITISH CONCERN EXPRESSED United Press Assn —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 3. “The Government should be aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction with the course oi the Tunisian campaign,*’ says the “Daily Mail” in a loading article. “Apparently, we have been mainly on the defensive since December o, aiid there is no sign whatever of a further push soon.” The “Daily Mail” continues: “On the contrary it seems that w t « have suffered several local setbacks, and may soon have to withstand a major attack from General Nehring. The situation is quite clearly unsatisfactory, and an explanation must be forthcoming from the Government when Parliament meets. “If the conquest of Tunisia has to wait till the Eighth Army not only reaches Tunisia, but is able to join the First Army, then several months may elapse before the Axis is eliminated from Africa. ‘Such a delay would mean postponement of whatever plans may be for an attack against Europe, which would in any case take months to organise. “Victory will not be attained until the Axis is simultaneously attacked in Europe from the west and the east,” says the “Daily Mail.” “The 800-mile trip to the Tunisian front affords convincing proof of the large-scale enterprise necessary to knock out the enemy,” says the correspondent of the “New York Times” (Mr Drew Middleton) who sees a danger of the enemy uniting his armies in Tunisia and Tripolitania, and forming a new North African front from Tripoli to Bizerta, which would retain an advantage in lines of communication. Any tendency to regard the Tunisian campaign as a fait accompli because of the rate of the great Allied advance in November-, is foolish, says Mr Middleton, There is a savage fight ahead. The Germans include crack troops who fought in France and Russia and who are more experienced than any of the British or American troops.