GERMAN AIM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1942, Page 3

GERMAN AIM

ATTEMPT TO HOLO TUNIS EVEN AT SACRIFICE OF TRIPOLI. BID FOR AIR SUPREMACY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 25. Germany’s intention to sacrifice even Tripoli and concentrate all her strength to hold the Tunisian Peninsula is daily becoming more evident. The “Daily Mail’s” special correspondent at Madrid says reports from Algiers indicate that the Germans are piling up fighters and bombers inside the fortified zone of Bizerta and Tunis in a determination to secure total air supremacy over Tunisia. , Axis military commentators state that it is impossible to seal the Sicilian Channel from Tripoli, but quite possible from Bizerta. If Germany maintains her hold on Tunisia the Axis will for the first time have completely divided the Mediterranean into two zones.

A Berlin dispatch received in Madrid says the vital theatre of operations has shifted from Libya to Tunisia. Lieutenant-General Anderson is on the point of launching a large-scale offensive against Tunis and Bizerta, according to Morocco radio, but the official sources in North Africa are still reticent. Correspondents at the Allied headquarters continue to emphasise that secrecy is imposed on them with reference to the movements of the British First Army and the American forces. One added, “General Eisenhower, with characteristic thoroughness, is planning everything to the last detail. Nothing has been left to chance; the stakes are too great for that.” HARD STRUGGLE LIKELY. The “Daily Mail,” in a leader, says: “It has become clear there will be no Allied walkover in Tunisia and the warnings that were given here and elsewhere that we would not turn the Axis out without a hard struggle are being justified. General Anderson’s advance must be conditioned by the rapidly-growing but not unexpected opposition from the Germans.” The Moscow radio, states that French troops in Tunisia are fanning out southward to intercept Axis units which are attempting to cross from Tripolitania into Tunisia. The German radio says that the strengthening of the German and Italian forces in Tunisia is proceeding rapidly, including air forces, tanks, assault guns and mechanised units whicn can operate over a large area. BATTLE FOR BIZERTA. With the fighting for a mountain pass which is considered the key position south-west of Bizerta, the battle for Bizerta has entered its first phase, according to the Algiers radio. The Morocco radio says British columns are on the coastal road advancing toward Bizerta, and the Vichy radio says Allied forces are now only 22 miles from Tunis. The Paris radio refers to violent fighting for the highways leading through the mountains, and also for the railways. The Algiers radio says British reinforcements and teennical troops were flown from Algieis to an important height in Tunisia. The struggle for mastery in the air rages without abatement. Axis planes, in the teeth of violent anti-aircraft fire, again raided Bona last night. The Paris radio says a United States military mission with Fighting French representatives, arrived at Dakar ana took control of the port, warships and coastal defences.