THE CAMPAIGN IN TUNISIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22477, 12 January 1943, Page 3

THE CAMPAIGN IN TUNISIA

A Paucity Of News Little Activity Except In The Air By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (1 a.m.) LONDON, January 11. “Whoever is going to clear the Germans out of Tunisia is going to pay a price,” said the Allied spokesman in a statement cabled by Reuter’s correspondent in North Africa. “The Axis, faced with the possibility of a Dunkirk, will try to prove in the next few months that they cannot be. driven out as quickly as the British from Flanders. It is a certainty that the Germans in Tunisia arc building the strongest possible Siegfried line, a task they can achieve with the maximum speed and efficiency. An all-out offensive by either side in the immediate future is extremely unlikely because of the unfavourable weather, which normally persists until February. Recent patrolling indicated that the Axis .is firmly entrenching in defensive positions. It confirms that we have the toughest job on hand in this campaign, which will not be won easily or without sacrifice and intelligent preparation.” The spokesman said he was convinced that the German keyword was defence —lOO per cent defence. From the tactical viewpoint the German defence was likely based on a system of strongpoints and well-sited machine-gun nests honeycombing the hills. The enemy was not utilising concrete for his defences because it revealed his positions. The Germans, like the Allies, were selecting additional airfields near the front. The only reports of land fighting m Tunisia deal with activities of the French troops. French headquarters in North Africa report a German attack north-east of Pichon, in the southern sector of Tunisia. This attack has been repulsed. Enemy formations were dispersed and three or four tanks were destroyed. To the west of Kairouan, and south of Pont du Wahs there has been lively air activity. In the eastern Sahara, Talnut Meleb and another enemy strongpoint have been captured by French troops. Allied fighter bombers were active over the battle area. Enemy transport was attacked with good results. On Friday night fighters machine-gunned the road between Homs and Zhtten. Bombers attacked a road junction near Tripoli and targets at Misurata. Many fires were started. . Intruder patrols were carried out over Pantellaria Island, Sicily and Tunis, where a Junkers 88 was shot down. Transport on the road between Sfax and Gabes was also attacked. During small enemy activity over Benghazi on Fridav night fighters shot down a Messerschmitt 111 and a Junkers 88 was destroyed in the Tobruk area. A communique from Allied Headquarters in North Africa states that the Twelfth United States Air Force between January 2 and 9 destroyed 35 enemy aircraft and damaged 40 for the loss of 12. Lieutenant-General Eisenhower announced the creation of a committee on which Britain is represented to coordinate and plan the rearmament of the French forces in North Africa with American equipment. Additions to Sea Strength All the French warships and merchantmen at Dakar would eventually be thoroughly serviceable, said Admiral Glassford, Chief of the United States Mission in North Africa. The Richelieu, which was damaged when the British attacked Dakar, did not need much repairing and was now being fitted out. There was also at Dakar three cruisers, two flotilla leaders, 10 submarines and scores of merchant ships. The French planes badly deteriorated and the shore and other equipment at Dakar had batteries and ammunition for only one heavy engagement. General Giraud has made a visit by air to Bamoko, on the upper Niger, capital of French Sudan, where he met General Barraud, commanding the French forces in the area. In his tour of French West Africa General Giraud is accompanied by M. (Governor-General). Speaking at Mamoko, General Giraud said: “It is imperative for us to reenter the struggle. I have watched Germany closely for 23 months and I am convinced it is impossible to collaborate with her as long as she is victorious, but to beat her we must put up a determined fight. I assure you that the people of France now know what they will be fighting for. I am certain of victory. Let us stamp out our earlier carelessness, to win the war with the maximum speed and the minimum losses. The Philadelphia correspondent of the “New York Times” says the war’s greatest Allied troop-carrying air armada ferried many thousands of American soldiers 1400 miles in a nonstop flight from England to North Africa simultaneously with the seaborne invasion on November 7. This was disclosed by Colonel Shelwire, the assistant commander of the American Army Air Force, who added that the transports carried an average of 20 men fully equipped. They flew 150 miles an hour.