CALM AT ALGIERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1942, Page 3

CALM AT ALGIERS

FOLLOWING ON SIGNING OF ARMISTICE AND’AFTER SOME H-EAVY FIGHTING. FRENCH NAVAL UNITS FORCED TO RETIRE. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, November 9. All is calm in Algiers. Today lorryloads of American and Royal Ah' Force troops passed through the city. This is the first mention of a landing by British. A suspension of hostilities at Algiers was signed yesterday (the day of the landing) with Admiral Darlan’s authorisation, by the French commander in North Africa and the commanders of the Americans. The armistice provided that the French garrison return immediately to their quarters, where they would be confined. They would retain their arms. Order would be maintained in Algiers by the Americans, and the civil authorities would remain at their posts. The suspension of hostilities concerned only the forces occupying the Algiers area. Heavy fighting has occurred at some of the landing points, but the operations elsewhere are progressing rapidly, says the British United Press correspondent with the United States expeditionary force. French naval units have put up the stiffest resistance, but there is no indication yet that the bulk of the French Navy is yet operating. The resistance was confined to Algiers, Oran and the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and elsewhere the Americans immediately thrust into the interior. The Maison Blanche and Bleda aerodromes. near Algiers, were captured early in the day, and Allied aircraft immediately moved into them. No heavy air activity is reported over the whole area, though there have been some attacks against shipping. Stiff opposition was encountered from coastal batteries at Oran and Algiers. French naval units emerged from the harbours, but were immediately engaged by the British and American forces under Sir Andrwe Cunningham and retired, after suffering some losses. ATTACK ON CASABLANCA JEAN BART HIT BY BOMBS. RESISTANCE ON ATLANTIC COAST. LONDON, November 8. The Berlin radio says that divebombers attacking Casablanca hit four submarines and also the Vichy battleship Jean Bart. The Vichy radio says it is reported from La Linea that powerful searchlights illumine the Gibraltar landing grounds, where many planes arc landing and taking off. Heavy rain is faffing in the straits. A communique issued at Rabat, Morocco, says: “The Anglo-Saxons at dawn attacked a number of points on the Atlantic coast and landed a small number of troops in the regions of Sidi Fedhala and Port Lyautey. Casablanca was violently bombarded from the sea and air. The local defenders everywhere are holding the enemy, and reinforcements are on the way.” The Vichy radio says that one wellplaced machine-gun held up the Americans for some time on the rocky road between Sidi Fearuch and Algiers. Nearly 100 Americans fell there. The Vichy radio says that French and American tanks clashed outside Algiers before hostilities were suspended. The enemy’s modern machines, supported by planes and heavy artillery, outclassed the French tanks.