Late News AFRICAN BATTLE

Southland Times, Issue 24882, 23 October 1942, Page 5

Late News AFRICAN BATTLE

RESUMPTION EXPECTED (Rec. 2.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 22. The big battle of North Africa is about to start, says the Paris radio. The lull may end at any moment. Both sides are accumulating huge masses of war material for the great clash. The Daily Mail’s Madrid correspondent says some Vichy sources suggest that any Allied attack from West Africa is more likely to be directed against Libya than against Dakar. They assert that forces equalling, and probably exceeding, the Bth Army have been concentrated in the regions north of Lake Chad. These consist mainly of Americans and Fighting French with a powerful air force and a wealth of tanks, guns and tractors. This force is reported to be capable of crossing the 700 miles of desert to the Mediterranean.

Vichy military circles assert that the route was reconnoitred when a mobile armoured column recently raided Benghazi aerodrome. The attack has not yet been launched because it is necessary to build up immense reserves at the bases, also along the lines of march, which follow three main caravan routes. Success in this drive would sweep French North Africa to General de Gaulle and again give the Mediterranean supremacy to the British Navy and be the beginning of an effective second front in the south.