VICTORY IN COMING MONTHS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 103, 26 January 1943, Page 5

VICTORY IN COMING MONTHS

Allies’ Hope In Tunisia (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 24. All eyes are now turned on Tunisia, where it is hoped that the weight of the Eighth Army will soon be felt. Commentators observe that the defenders of the African bridgehead, if they succeed in joining forces with Rommel, will suffer a disastrous lack of the air support necessary - to protect their essential sea communications. As tile R.A.F. Middle East Command moves into the aerodromes of Tripoli, the enemy, penned in the narrow coastal strip, will feel this lack more and’more. Meanwhile, it is assumed that General Eisenhower, while the British and French screen his front, is organizing the Americano as a striking force which, when the aerodromes are ready to receive the full Allied air strength, will synchronize its offensive with that of General Montgomery. The preparations are expected to fake a little time yet. but, with a view to the earliest possible opening of a European campaign, hopes are expressed that the enemy will be driven out of Africa by the spring. A correspondent soys. “There is a big new map on the wall of the military conference room in Cairo now. and tile change is significant. The old map finished just west of Tripoli. The new one starts west of Tripoli, and runs up to the very tip of Tunisia. This is a sign of things to come.”

DOMINATING HILL

Nazi Gain In Tunisia (Received January 25, 7 p.m.) LONDON, January 24. An Allied communique from the North African headquarters states: “The enemy occupied the hill of Jebel Boudabous, on the east side of the Ousseltia Valley. Light bombers, fighter-bombers and fighters supported our troops during the day. On the previous night bombers attacked enemy communications and an aerodrome in the Kairwan region. “Heavy bombers attacked the docks at Bizerta yesterday; hits were observed on the target area and one ship was sunk. Many combats with enemy fighters occurred and 19 of them were destroyed without loss. A sweep by bombers and fighters between Tunis and Sicily resulted in the sinking of two small enemy vessels, and one enemy bomber was destroyed. Our fighters attacking the road from Tripolitania to Tunisia destroyed many enemy vehicles and one enemy fighter. Three enemy bombers weer destroyed last night. “From thees operations seven of our aircraft, are missing.” When the Axis fighters tried to interfere with the Allied bombers over Bizerta and 19 were shot down not a single bomber was lost. The Jebel Boudabous hill, which the Axis forces.in Tunisia have occupied, dominates the Kairwan plains, which lie to the east. A spokesman at the Allied headquarters said that the French withdrew southward to prevent encirclement and occupied new positions at Jebel Ousse. French and American forces are still holding the town of Ousseltia, and the situation along the road from Pont du Fahs to Robaa is unchanged, with the Allies holding positions seven miles from Robaa. It is learned that the French Camel Corps destroyed 17 tanks in repelling an Axis attack in southern Tunisia. designed to open a passage for Rommel.