FRENCH TROOPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1942, Page 3

FRENCH TROOPS

LITTLE INCLINATION SHOWN TO FIGHT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 8. The second communique from the Allied headquarters states: “The landings by United States forces on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of French North Africa are 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 lack of resistance encountered on most beaches indicated that the French armed forces in North Africa had no desire 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 torpedoed and disabled. Our 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.” SIR A. CUNNINGHAM COMMANDING ALLIED NAVAL FORCES. LONDON, November 8. The Allied naval forces in the operations are under the command of Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, who was the British Commandcr-in-Chief in the Mediterranean, until he went to Washington six months ago ‘as head of the British naval mission in the United States. It is emphasised in London that the operation is an “American show,” with British assistance. The United States War Department announced that Brigadier-General Doolittle. who led the raid on Tokio, commands the American air forces in the African expedition. Major-General L. R. Fredendall commands the Americans landing at Oran; Major-General C. W. Ryder commands the Americans at Algiers and Major-General G. S. Patton commands the forces landing on the west coast of Africa. The War Department has not mentioned the whereabouts of the west coast landing places. Rear-Admiral H. K. Hewitt commands the United States naval forces engaged in the expedition, and Lieu-tenant-General F. M. Andrews commands the United States forces in the Middle East.