ANTICIPATED IN NORTH AFRICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1942, Page 3

ANTICIPATED IN NORTH AFRICA

Allies and Axis Both Getting Ready

UNOFFICIAL REPORT OF BATTLE SOUTH OF TUNIS

ROMMEL DIGGING IN AT EL AGHEILA

LONDON, November 26. It seems clear that both the Allies and the Axis are getting’ ready for a showdown in Africa and that it is likely to come soon. General Smuts said today that Tripoli is the crux of the North African campaign and that it will be taken. In Libya, 400 miles east of Tripoli, on the borders of Tripolitania, the Eighth Army is pressing on Rommel’s rearguards which are endeavouring to hold up the Allied advance while the main Germany army digs in at El Agheila, where, correspondents say, the enemy obviously means to make a stand. Observing that the Luftwaffe has been very quiet in Libya of late, a correspondent says he was told by Air Vice-Marshal Coningham that in Africa the Luftwaffe has suffered the most complete defeat ever suffered by an air force and that the fable of German efficiency is exploded too. Allied aircraft continue their activity over areas widely separated. Both Tunis and Bizerta have had their full share of recent bombing attacks and south of Sicily ’a large enemy ship was bombed and left settling down in a pool of oil. There has been no official news of the Allied land forces in Tunisia since it was reported that they were making satisfactory progress towards Tunis and Bizerta, but unofficial reports state that a battle is going on for an important key position 20 miles south of Tunis.