HOPE SURPASSED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 39, 10 November 1942, Page 5

HOPE SURPASSED

Results In French North Africa

EIGHTH ARMY SPEED

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) xr in LONDON, November 9. Rapid advances are being continued in North Africa. Algiers has capitulated, and more places are being occupied. Fresh landings have also been made. Reports coming in indicate that the advance is going even better than was planned. The whole vast series of convoys (states British Official Wireless) have reached their operational bases with incredible success. Axis air support from the Mediterranean bases is problematical on account of the distance, plus the demands of Romme . Reports reaching Vichy late last night stated that American forces were overpowering French resistance at at least a dozen points. The Americans were now widening their bridgeheads and preparing to land tanks and artillery from some 70 ships. Losses on both sides so far were small. . At the other end of the African front, the Eighth Army is dashing onward. Ihe latest Cairo communique says that the pursuit of the remnants of the panzer armies continued throughout yesterday. Hostile elements left at Mersa Matruh capitulated yesterday.

Correspondents report that no attempt has yet been made by Vichy to employ larger units of the French Fleet. There has been no intervention by the Axis air forces. Fighting is now believed to be greatest at Oran, where a strenuous defence is reported. The Americans have made a second landing there and occupied one of the two aerodromes. Some Vichy naval units which had left Oran to resist the landings were driven back after suffering losses. A naval engagement is also reported off Casablanca.- Vichy admits that the French warships have suffered severe losses. New landings have been made 130 miles south of Casablanca, and again further south.

All is calm in Algiers. Today lorryloads of American and Royal Air Force troops passed through the city. This is the first mention of a landing hy British.

Suspension of hostilities at Algiers was signed yesterday (the day of the landings) with Admiral Darlan’s authorization by the French commander in North Africa and the commanders of the Americans. The armistice provided that the French garrison return immediately to their quarters, where they would be confined. They would retain their arms. Order would be'maintalned in Algiers by the Americans, and the civil authorities would remain at their posts. The suspension of hostilities concerned only the forces occupying the Algiers area. Some Heavy Fighting. Heavy fighting has occurred at some of the landing points, but the operations elsewhere ■ are progressing rapidly, says the British United Press correspondent with the United States expeditionary force. French naval units have put up the stiffest resistance, but there is no indication that the bulk of the French Navy is yet operating. The resistance was confined to Algiers, Oran and the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and elsewhere the Americans immediately thrust into the interior. The Maison Blanche and Bleda aerodromes, near Algiers, were captured early in the daj’ and Allied aircraft immediately moved into them. No heavy air activity is reported over the whole area, .though there have been some attacks against shipping. Stiff opposition was encountered from coastal batteries .at Oran and Algiers. French naval units emerged from the harbours, but were immediately engaged by the British and American forces under Sir Andrew Cunningham and retired, after suffering some losses. The Associated Press correspondent with the Americans says that the La Senia airfield at Oran was still in enemy hands. The fighting here was confused and scattered. The western Atlantic (ask force encountered heavy opposition from light naval forces. At Algiers the coastal batteries sank two Allied vessels in the harbour, but Allied battleships silenced the batteries. American “Putsch.” The first war correspondent to cable from the Allied force headquarters in North Africa sends a short but vivid account of the initial stages of the landings. “The landings,” he says, “werfe led by rangers and armoured infantry and a small number of marines and bluejackets. Parachute troops swept in to seize vital airports. Carrier-based aircraft. and heavy units of the American and British navies covered the landings.” He added: “The operations have brought to the western Mediterranean theatre the largest troopship and supply caai'oys. in history, supported . by the greatest Allied naval array of the war. A huge air cover of the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force' is supporting the ground operations.”

JEAN BART HIT FROM AIR

Vichy Surveys Actions (Received November 9, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, November 8. Berlin radio says that dive-bombers attacking Casablanca hit four submarines and also the Vichy battleship Jean Burt. Vichy radio says it is reported from Lu Linea that powerful searchlights illumine the Gibraltar landing ground, where many planes are landing and taking off. Heavy rain is falling in the straits. A communique issued at Rabat, Morocco, says: “The ' Anglo-Saxons at dawn attacked a number of points on the Atlantic coast and landed a small number of troops in the regions of Sidi Fedhala and Port Lyautey. Casablanca was violently bombarded from the sea and air. The local defenders everywhere are holding the enemy, and reinforcements are on the way.” Vichy radio says that one well-placed machinegun held up the Americans for some time on the rocky road between Sidi Fearuch and Algiers. Nearly 100 .Americans fell there. Vichy radio says that French and American tanks clashed outside Algiers before hostilities were suspended. The enemy’s modern machines, supported by planes and heavy artillery, outclassed the French tanks. Coup Against Port.

An American navnl squadron late yesterday afternoon appeared in Algiers Bay, says the radio. The squadron, which consisted of a battleship, a cruiser, and two destroyers, shelled Cape Matifou for a considerable time and then sailed eastward and shelled St. Eugen and a battery at des Anglais. The sky over the area was darkened by clouds of smoke.

A dispatch from Vichy says that Algiers was the scene of the heaviest fighting. beginning at 7.30 a.m. and continuing without interruption. Warships formed a circle outside Algiers while landing craft came in to land at the Admiralty buildings. Simultaneously, a parallel thrust was made east and west of Algiers.

Vichy radio says that a French submarine in the harbour was hit. while another light unit was able to escape and sail for France.

Algiers is the great port which lies in the centre of the Algerian coastline. It has a population of about 250,000. and is the capital and seat of government. On an island in the port stands the

Admiralty building, against which an assault by American troops was mentioned by Vichy earlier today. Vichy spoke earlier of landings to the east and west of Oran. It was also admitted that Arzeu, 25 miles east of Oran, had been alihost occupied by American forces. Oran is an important Vichy naval, base, and was in the headlines two years ago when the Royal Navy was forced to take drastic action against the French fleet stationed there. This action followed the refusal of the French admiral in command to place his ships out of reach of the Germans. The town has a population of nearly 200,000. Other Landings. ’ Vichy says that Oran was subjected to violent air raids during the morning. Casablanca, another famous port on the Atlantic coast, which has a, population of about a quarter of a million, is not only an important naval base but the economic capital of Morocco. It is admitted that United States troops have succeeded in landing at two other points on the Atlantic coast—Safi and Fedala. Two other points north-east of Casablanca are also mentioned as landing places. The town of Safi, where fighting is said to be in progress, is a big wool and grain port. No American landings have been reported from Tunisia, but it js stated that a bomb was dropped this- morning oh an aerodrome in Tunis.

Vichy radio estimated the Allied forces landing in North Africa to total 140,000. FRENCH TROOPS NOT KEEN TO FIGHT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November S. The second communique from the Allied headquarters states: “The landings by United States forces on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of French North Africa arc proceeding according to plan. Several important airfields have been occupied by the Army Air Force and the Royal Air Force. Ranger (U.S. commando) units are participating in the operation. “The’la.ck of resistance encountered on most beaches indicated that the French armed forces in North Africa had no de-, sire to oppose the entry of the American troops into this territory. The forces that landed in the early hours today are advancing rapidly, and other landings continue. Resistance appears to have been mainly confined to navy and coast defence artillery. Because of the confused nature of the fighting the precise results are not known. ■ “Our naval forces are in control and have suffered no losses except two small ships which entered Oran harbour. Yesterday one of our transports was torr pitdoed and disabled. Oiir troops aboard her, under a commander who refused to be idle during the operation, took to their light landing-craft and continued toward their objective 120 miles away.” ADMISSION OF TROOP REVOLTS LONDON, November S. An official Vichy statement says that an insurrectionary movement was suppressed at Casablanca, and that General Bethouard, who participated-in the rising was arrested.. All the troops, except one battalion, are loyal to Petain. Rabat radio said that a local revolt broke out last night in Morocco under the pretext that Americans wore on the point of making a general landing in North Africa. The revolt was totally quelled by 8.30 a.m. without bloodshed. The ringleaders wore arrested ami a state of siege proclaimed. According -to Vichy radio General Nogues, in a message to Vichy, declared that the revnl-t had boon checked after several difficult, hours. General Lnscrotis. commander of the Moroccan army, qnd General La Hnulle, commander of the air force, who mutinied, were arrested, but wore liberated and resumed their commands. Vichy radio announced that a French Government decree bans all meetings throughout France. NAVAL BATTLES CLAIMED

French Fleet At Sea LONDON, November 8. The Vichy news agency reported tonight that a naval battle was raging off Casablanca. Berlin radio, quoting a Vichy report, declared: "The entire French naval forces are under steam at Toulon, awaiting sailing orders.” 11 added that Marseilles was in a state of preparedness. Another Vichy report quoted by Berne says that French warships were in action at Oran. Later, the Berlin radio announced: “The French fleet left Toulon this afternoon to light British naval units.” The French warships at Toulon included the modern battleships Dunkerque and Strasbourg, the old battleship I’roveiice, the heavy cruisers Algerie, Colbert, Foeh, Dupleix. four other cruisers, and a number of destroyers, submarines, and auxiliaries. and a seaplane tender. Vichy radio stated that, only the battleship Nelson and a few destroyers were still at Gibraltar at noon. There was intense air activity over the straits. An official Vichy announcement claims that a French battleship cither sank or severely damaged an American destroyer carrying rangers 10 miles offshore from Algiers.