EIGHTH ARMY TAKES TRIPOLI

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 102, 25 January 1943, Page 5

EIGHTH ARMY TAKES TRIPOLI

Last Of Italian African Empire TANKS SWEEP ON No Sign Yet Of Pause In Offensive (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copy right.) (Received. January 24, 7 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 23. British tanks rumbled into Tripoli at dawn today to find that almost all the enemy units had already fled. The population (about 60,000, mostly Arabs, Italians and Jews) are reported to be calmf . . Other British tanks are racing across country from Azisia, 30 miles south of the city to cut the coast road to Zuara—Rommel’s one line of escape to Tunisia. Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says that Tripoli fell to parallel thrusts along a 60-mile front by three columns, consisting of some of the Eighth Army's most famous units. Rommel tried to hold up the British columns by extensive demolitions on the coast road, and he also threw a small panzer force against the British units south of the city, but he failed dismally. Rommel misjudged the pace of the latest British advance, as he misjudged General Montgomery’s armoured strength at El Alamein. The Secretary of War, Sir James Grigg, in a broadcast, said, “To all intents and purposes the fall of Tripoli completes the destruction of the Italian Empire in Africa. Both the British and Russian armies have had dark days of retreat, but we believe that for both the tide has now firmly turned. Both will bear their due share in the annihilation of the blatant Axis beast.

The Eighth Army’s vanguard the move again, having resumed the chase of the scurrying Axis _ forces practically before the demolition explosions in Tripoli had died down, says Iteutcr’s Cairo correspondent. Rommel's rearguard Ims. desperately tried to stage a miniature Dunkirk by getting out of Zuara in small ships. Allied fighters and bombers caused havoc among the evacuees when they dropped bombs among the small, craft huddled in the harbour. There is a good road as far as Zuara, but beyond that it tails off into an indifferent track to the Tunisian frontier. Our fighters and bombers, day and night, are blowing craters along the whole length of the road, and our light bombers are particularly active in the Ben Gardane area, where the dense traffic is entering Tunisia. A bombed Axis petrol-carrier is typical of the havoc caused. It exploded and set on fire 20 vehicles round it. Immediately after an Italian communique broke the news of Tripoli's fall to the Italians, Rome radio stated: “The great battle which Italy has fought in the last 32 months on the African coasts and in the Mediterranean has now ended. “Britain gathered masses of men and material from all quarters of the Empire, and in November, 11)40, we had to fall back, suffering enormous losses.” The announcer after reviewing the swaying battle to El Alamein added: “Reinforcements then poured to the enemy and our final bound to the Nile was made impossible. The British had the advantage of the neighbouring ports and the rich resources of the hinterland while the Axis, severely mauled by the preceding victorious effort, had to fight with miles of desert behind it. The enemy can justly claim victory, but bo has paid dearly for it.” Berlin radio stated that Tripoli was evacuated without fighting after the removal of munitions and stores and destruction of the harbour. New Air Offensives.

The aeronautical correspondent of the “Daily Herald’,’ says: “It will be only a matter of days before the Eiglith Army’s air force—probably the lai’gest, strongest, and most experienced air unit outside Russia —will be able to concentrate on Tunisia. Already Rommel's retreating columns are being subjected to a non-stop air attack. Practically the entire coast-line west of Tripoli is admirably suited for landing grounds from which even four-engined bombers can operate. Twin-engined bombers and fighters, flying from any airfield in this stretch, can easily strafe Tunis. 300 air miles north-west of Tripoli. “Bombs and bijllets will follow Rommel right into Tunisia, and after that perhaps the greatest combined air offensive that has ever been launched will begin on the Axis armies in Tunisia. There is reason to believe that the Allied air forces in Tunisia have conserved their strength for that precise moment.’’ ■Whether the Eighth Army will halt because of the long way it has travelled is not known in London (says British Official Wireless), but it is considered that it will halt only if the resistance is such to require more troops to be brought up. It is assumed that the Germans did ill they could to destroy the harbour installations at Tripoli, but it is recalled that Benghazi was put into order in very short time. The immense - tactical importance of Tripoli for further operations is pointed out. As soon as this first-class harbour can be used 300 miles of sea passage from Benghazi will take the place of the 500 miles’ haulage across country. How City Fell. The capture of Tripoli was officially announced in today's Middle East joint communique, which stated : “Our, forward troops entered Tripoli early this morning. Yesterday our troops occupied Castcl Verde (halfway between Iloms and Tripoli), and were closing on Tripoli from the east and south. Strong enemy rearguards, attempting to , delay our forces, were engaged and driven back. “The full weight of our fighter-bombers’ effort was directed against enemy transport columns withdrawing westward along the coastal road into Tunisia. Great damage was inflicted on excellent targets. Small shipping attempting to leave the harbour of Zuara, 60 miles west of Tripoli, was attacked by fighterbombers, and vessels were damaged. Enemy air activity was not on a large scale. In combats which developed our fighters shot down three enemy fighters and damaged others." From these large-wale operations, and also attacks over Sicily and the Mediterranean, two aircraft are missing. A correspondent with the Eighth Army says that advanced elements of the British forces entered Tripoli at 5 a.m. All yesterday the troops were held up by a rearguard which was almost entirely composed of the German 21st and 15th armoured divisions, and elements of the J9th and Bth divisions, and Young Fascists. The fighting was at times lively. However, the main difficulty was duo to the extremely bad going across country where the Italians had built a fairly deep line of concrete emplacements, traps and wire entanglements protecting gun positions. Demolition of all kinds and booby traps and mines also hindered the advance. The troops never ceased their pressureoji.the.enenjy. and .this was kept

up during the night from the cast and south, enabling the advanced forces to enter'the city at daybreak. Navy Shells Zuara. A correspondent describes how, while Rommel's forces streamed across the border into Tunisia yesterday, the full force of the Allied fighter-bombers was launced at them. Transport was bombed and machinegunned throughout the day. Twenty vehicles were destroyed when bombs hit a petrol dump, and five German staff cars which attempted to pass them were riddled with bullets. Many direct, hits were scored on vessels in Zuara harbour; also a vessel off Gabes, Tunisia, was left ablaze, and a merchant vessel near Sfax was attacked _ with machineguns and cannon. Fighterbombers raided Lampedusa Island, and long-range fighters set fire to a small ship. ... The Admiralty states: “Early this morning light forces of the Royal Navy carried out a bombardment of the small port of Zuara. Good results were achieved, large fires and explosions being observed. His Majesty's ships suffered neither casualties nor damage.” Zualu is 35 miles from the Tunisian frontier. The por.. accommodates little vessels up to 750 tons, and the town, which is built round an oasis, is principally a military station. An Admiralty report yesterday stated: “During successful opei'ations by our light coastal forces off Tripoli on Tuesday night, an Italian U-boat was sunk. While approaching the harbour shortly before midnight, the U-boat was sighted on the surface, in company with three tugs. The tugs cast off and abandoned the U-boat, which was immediately de-

strayed. One tug was set on fire and driven ashore.! The fate of the others, which were frequently hit, is not known, as they escaped in the darkness while our forces proceeded to press home an attack on the harbour works. They came under heavy but ineffectual gunfire from the harbour defences. Superficial damage was suffered anff two men were wounded.”

ON TO TUNISIA

No Time Being Wasted LONDON, January 24.

A communique from the Cairo headquarters today states; "Yesterday our troops, after occupying Tripoli, continued their advance and by evening were in contact with the enemy well to the west.

“Following the 72 hours of intensive attack, the Allied airforces reduced their pressure yesterday owing to the fast withdrawal thinning out the enemy’s motorized columns.”