MAJOR AXIS EFFORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22473, 7 January 1943, Page 3

MAJOR AXIS EFFORT

Determined To Hold

Tunisia

Correspondent States Impressions By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON. Jan. 5. Hitlers determination to hold the Mediterranean has turned the war in Tunisia into a major effort, with thousands of Germans and Italians employed from Bizerta to the Tripolitanian border, together with part of the first-line strength of the Luftwaffe. This is the conclusion of the Associated Press correspondent at Allied headquarters, North Africa, based on a trip of 2100 miles along the war front in a jeep and another 700 miles in a Flying Fortress. The correspondent’s main impressions were:— (1) Rain and constant threat of rain make Allied tank warfare impossible in Northern Tunisia until late in February. There are five main roads leading into Tunis and Bizerta. The ground between them is nothing but mud which would bog the lightest tank. (2) Germans, with short lines of communication and perimeter defences at tw T o ports and a great concentration of artillery and Luftwaffe protection from Sardinia and Sicily, could halt any infantry assault with murderous (3) In the north land warfare is stagnant with neither side able to take definite initiative. (4) In spite of the advantage of established bases within easy reach of the front from Sicily and Sardinia the Luftwaffe is losing punch in the face of Allied opposition. It is only the shadow of the terrible weapon it was in France and Greece. (5) Lack of airfields is handicapping Allied effort in the air. but the Royal Air Force and United States Air Force are dealing out punishment w’hich is nine or 10 times more effective from the military viewpoint than the Luftwaffes blow’s.

(6) French troops, with a total disregard for politics and antiquated equipment, are fighting with great gallantry’, particularly at Pont du Fahs and southwards, in a winding irregular line through the mountains to Gafsa. (7) The Germans are making great preparations for the defence of Tunisia.

Thousands of Aerodromes In dry weather the great Tunisian plateaus provide hundreds of flying fields for the asking, but now the fields must be created with thousands of tons of wire-netting brought hundreds of miles by lorry’. However, the Allied bomber attacks have been one of the most consistent of the war. Allies have dropped 40 bombs for every four by the Germans. This ratio is increasing" and when it can be coordinated with tank attack will be a deciding factor. General Nehring (the German commander) recognises this and is conserving his planes. It is estimated that he has about 1000 in the Mediterranean bowl. Any attack will be preceded by a violent air battle. The quality of the prisoners dispels any doubt that Hitler intends to hold the bottleneck between Tunisia and Sicily. They are crack airmen from the west of Europe and Norway and the Russian front, some of whom are wearing insignia for 100 operational flights. Allied Force headquarters report that Allied aircraft and artillery destroyed 12 to 15 tanks of an enemy force which attacked French positions at Fondouck on Sunday. French counter-attacks also inflicted casualties on the enemy. In support of operations by 7 the French troops Allied bombers, escorted by fighters, yesterday attacked Cherickera. North of Fondouck. fighter sweeps w’ere carried out. Our bombers also attacked railway yarcs at Kaikouan and four enemy aircrait that were attacking one of our aerodromes were destroyed. Two of our planes are missing from operations yesterday.