AIR SUPREMACY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 November 1942, Page 3

AIR SUPREMACY

ESSENTIAL TO ALLIES IN TUNISIA ■ i FULL-SCALE ASSAULT MAY BE DELAYED. GIBRALTAR CONCENTRATION. ;By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 24. It is unlikely that the First Army will attempt a full-scale assault till the Allied air resources in northern Tunisia are considerably greater than at present, says the “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent with the British First Army. Nevertheless, Allied air force planes are severely punishing the enemy. The R.A.F. is smashing up Bizerta harbour and also Axis shipping and Axis-occu-pied airfields. United Nations fighter planes attacked enemy troop trains near Gabes and shot down four Axis planes attempting intreception. The Axis ,is retaliating against Algiers and other places. The Algiers radio appealed to the population not to stay in the streets during the raids. The announcer said more people were injured by shrapnel than by bombs.

The Associated Press of America correspondent from Allied headquarters says that the Germans are still entrenched on the Bizerta-Tunis perimeter. The area under their control extends about 20 to 30 miles from the cities. The Governor-General of French West Africa, General Boisson, broadcasting from Dakar radio, stressed that it had been his highest concern to uphold the sovereignty of French West Africa. He said the same motive led him to place himself under the command of Admiral Darlan, but he would not have taken the step if not certain that he thus remained true to his oath of allegiance to Marshal Petain. General Boisson asked the population to accept his decision. “Our country will remain free from foreign occupation,” he said. “The path which West Africa now enters with North Africa and which is leading to the liberation of France and its chief will demand sacrifices from all.” The arrival at Gibraltar of two more battleships, several cruisers and destroyers, and also aircraft, indicates that the British-American operations are about to take a new turn.

The battle for air supremacy appears to be developing rapidly in Tunisia, and in the meantime the land fighting has flared up in isolated engagements. Reports from Allied headquarters in North Africa state that the First Army forced back advanced German units west of Bizerta, and an American force, with a sprinkling of French troops, drove back advanced German units 24 miles south-west of Tunis. American paratroops landed some time ago to defend positions near the captured aerodromes in southern Tunisia broke up a German armoured column and captured prisoners. The concentration of Allied troops is proceeding, though the advance, according to Reuter’s correspondent with the American forces, has been somewhat slowed down by the arrival of an increasing number of German fighters and bombers.

ITALIANS ACCUSED ALLEGED MURDER OF BRITISH ; PRISONERS. FOR MAKING VICTORY SIGN. LONDON, November 25. Charges are being made regarding the treatment of British prisoners in North Africa. It is alleged that at Tobruk some British prisoners were shot by the Italians simply because they gave the victory sign. TUNISIAN COMMAND TAKEN OVER BY'ROMMEL. ACCORDING TO BERLIN SPOKESMAN. LONDON, November 23. A military spokesman broadcasting over the Berlin radio, indicated that Field-Marshal Rommel has taken over the command of the Axis forces in Tunisia. He said that in Tunisia Rommel had exchanged a useless strip of desert for a battle zone which was more akin to European conditions. Rommel’s- Afrika Korps had taken up positions prepared beforehand.