AIR STRENGTH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1942, Page 4

AIR STRENGTH

GREAT ALLIED SUPERIORITY IN 'TUNISIA APPALLING DIFFICULTIES FACED BY ENEMY. NIGHT AND DAY ATTACKS ON TUNIS AND BIZERTA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, December 16. That the situation in Tunisia is mere favourable’ to the Allies than the public generally suppose, was a view expressed in air circles in London today. Both sides are building up their forces under conditions of bad roads and atrocious weather, but the odds on attainment of the desired result are with the Allies. The enemy must be facing appalling difficulties. Tunis and Bizerta are both suffering the heaviest bombing attacks, making the enemy’s task of assembling supplies a terrible one. Contrary to the general belief, the bombing of Algiers and Bona has not been substantial. The enemy operational air force of all kinds in Tunisia does not exceed two hum dred aircraft, of which a majority are fighters and less than thirty divebombers. The Allies, on the contrary, have now built up .their air forces and their attacks on Tunis and Bizerta are on a heavy scale and are constantly proceeding, night and day. Heavy bombers from North Africa and Malta incessantly bomb harbours and installations and damage shipping. The Luftwaffe, ’already severely stretched, is not getting a great deal of support from its squadrons installed in Sicily. On the other hand, Malta has a sufficient fuel supply for all its aircraft, and is full of fight.