TAKEN BY EIGHTH ARMY IN ITS STRIDE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 November 1942, Page 3

TAKEN BY EIGHTH ARMY IN ITS STRIDE

Famous Port and Base Reoccupied by South Africans ROMMEL’S FORCES IN DANGER OF COMPLETE ANNIHILATION ALLIES REPORTED TO HAVE REACHED FRONTIER OF TUNIS LONDON, November 13. In its westward sweep from Egypt, the Eighth Army has reoccupied Bardia and Tobruk and is continuing its pursuit of the retreading Axis forces. An unofficial message states that in French North Africa Africa the Allied forces have reached the borders of Tunisia. Tobruk was reoccupied by South African motorised forces. The enemy evacuation of the port and base was made partly by sea and two enemy barges proceeding westward were sunk by our airmen between Gazala and Tobruk. In a message of congratulation to the General Officer Commanding the South African forces on the recovery of Tobruk, General Smuts says its loss at last has been properly avenged. There has been no let-up in air attacks on Rommel’s fleeing forces. Enemy transport was heavily bombed and machinegunned on Wednesday and again yesterday in the Gazala-Tmimi area and west of Tobruk. The British United Press says Rommel has been trying to evacuate men and materials from Tobruk in the last three days. The “Daily Mail’s’’ Cairo correspondent says that Axis ships are reported to be leaving Benghazi harbour laden with administrative files, and staff personnel. A Cairo correspondent yesterday said that with the Eighth Army advancing 1 at a tremendous pace—l3o miles in two days— Rommel will have to break all records for a retreat if he hopes to escape complete annihilation. Today’s communique from the Middle East headquarters states that yesterday the Eighth Army continued its pursuit of the panzer army into Cyrenaica, taking more prisoners. Our troops have occupied Bardia. Every vehicle concentration between Gazala and Tmimi was successfully bombed and machinegunned. Barges sailing westward between Tobruk and Gazala were attacked and two were sunk. No enemy air activity was reported. . „ , „ „ . The Allied commander-in-chief in French North Africa, General Eisenhower, reports that British troops under his command have extended their occupation of Algeria. This has been done with the approval of the French authorities. General Eisenhower also reports that eleven enemy planesi were shot down by Allied fighters. Allied planes last night again attacked the German-occupied aerodrome at Tunis. President Roosevelt statedin Washington that he had no knowledge of any reply from the Bey of Tunis to the recent notification that it is the intention of United States forces to pass through Tunisia. Allied forces in Algeria and Morocco are reported to be mopping up isolated pockets bf resistance where French troops have not yet heard of the armistice or complied with its terms. A considerable number of members of the German mission in North Africa have been captured and are in American hands.