DRIVE BY AMERICANS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 106, 29 January 1943, Page 5

DRIVE BY AMERICANS

New Battlefront May Be Opened In Tunisia (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright ) (Received January 28, 1 0.50 p.m.) LONDON, January 28. The American army concentrated in western Tunisia has opened an offensive which is designed to force a passage throug to the Mediterranean, according to Axis sources. The Americans have attacked from round Tebessa, and forward units have contacted the Axis outposts. Military observers say that the object or the attack would be to drive a wedge between Rommel s forces and the German army concentrated in eastern Tunisia.

The Eighth Army is approaching the Mareth Line, where Rommel has massed the Afrika Korps, says the German-controlled Paris radio. A battle is expected soon near Gabes, 21 miles north-west of the coastal end of the Mareth Line. It is believed in London that Rommel is not likely to attempt anything more than a rearguard fight in the Mareth Line with the remnants of his army, which now possibly totals 40,000 to 50,000. It is not sound, from the military viewpoint, for two comparatively small forces like Rommel’s and von Arnim’s to fight 200 miles apart, and undoubtedly the Axis aim is to effect a junction of the two armies. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Algiers correspondent says that the Germans, after five days of bitter fighting, widened their original 33-mile bottle-neck between Pont du Fahs and the coast into a strip 45 miles wide. This will be the corridor through which Rommel hopes to bring lus harried troops to temporary sanctuary. Positions Regained.

A communique from the Allied headquarters in North Africa yesterday stated : “In the Ousseltia valley and the mountains to the east, the Allied forces have regained some of the positions .captured by the enemy in recent operations. These positions are being consolidated. The Tunisia correspondent of ' lhe Times” says: “Our First and Eighth Armies now find themselves jointly engaged in the same operations. This, for the moment, is likely to be disadvantageous. because the length of our communications remains enormous, even when Tripoli is again operating, whereas the diminution of the long supply line from Tunis and Sousse to Tripoli has greatly eased the German supply problem. “The German forces are more compactly grouped, and the strain on the First Arinv is likely to be severe till the Eighth Armv is able to give closer support. The Germans retain the majority of Tunisian aerodromes and are able at short notice to transfer fresh squadrons from Sicily.” . „ . j. The German-controlled Pans radio says that Rommel’s and von Arnim s forces have established contact. ’ West of Tripoli.

The latest communique from Cairo states: “Yesterday our patrols were in contact with the enemy in the area ot Sabrata (more than 40 miles west ot Tripoli). “Air activity was on a small scale, but successful attacks were made on railway communications in southern Italy. One aircraft did not return.” Weather conditions in Tunisia remain atrocious, said a Royal Air Force spokesman. There is now 12in. of slime on the ground and this almost insuperably . impedes all movement. Spasmodic rain is likely to continue till the end of February, but the wet spells are growing less frequent, and it should be possible to resume effective operations shortly. The change will greatly affect the work of the R.A.F., but the nature of the campaign will necessitate the closest co-operation of land, sea, and air forces. In spite of the weather, the success of naval and air attacks on enemy shipping and on Sicily and Tunisia has been highly significant. The enemy has undoubtedly received far fewer reinforcements and supplies than he anticipated. Tunis and Bizerta harbours have been heavily bombed, specially by Flying Fortresses, but they have not been stopped from working. It is a slow process . to put a military port entirely out of action. The big clash seems nearer in Tunisia and there is evidence of a concentration of Allied strength for a final bout with the Axis for the possession of the whole of North Africa, says Reuter’s correspondent in Tunisia.