TASKS TO FOLLOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1943, Page 3

TASKS TO FOLLOW

ON EJECTION OF ENEMY FROM AFRICA GENERAL AELXANDER’S REVIEW. . ORGANISATION OF POWERFUL , ALLIED FORCES. LONDON, February 10. General Sir 11. Alexander has spoken of the tasks ahead, now that Mussolini’s African Empire has been cleared of Axis troops. General Alexander foreshadowed that as soon as the last of the Axis troops have been cleared out of the African Continent, the British First and Eighth armies would be used in new operations against the enemy. These armies would also be strengthened by large forces whose release has been made possible by the magnificent Russian victories, which have largely removed the threat to the east. General Alexander, who was talking to war correspondents, also revealed that fresh troops have been brought out to the battlefield. The purpose was to prepare more and more of their forces for the campaign ahead. At the same time, some of their troops with the most experience of desert warfare had been sent home. He thanked the three services and the United States Air Force for their achievement in driving the enemy right out of Tripolitania. The Eightli Army was drawing nearer to General Eisenhower’s forces and the stage was quickly approaching when the two operations would have to be regarded as one. NOT GOING TO BE EASY. It was not going to be easy. The Mareth Line was undoubtedly a strong position. Rommel would do his best to hold the British up there and would hold on like grim death to'the narrow corridor between Sicily and North Africa, because he realised the consequences to Europe if the Allies succeeded in driving him out, but, said General Alexander, “the dice are loaded in our favour.” The enemy in Tunisia, he added, had only a few ports at his disposal and the Allies’ attacks on his supply lines were mounting. WELL SUSTAINED ALLIED AIR ONSLAUGHT. ON ENEMY IN NORTH AFRICA & SICILY. LONDON, February 10. The main news from the North African war zone is of more air attacks on Axis ports, airfields and communications. Places have been attacked as far apart as Sicily and Southern Tunisia. Palermo, in Sicily, was bombed on Monday night and Malta-based aircraft also carried out an offensive sweep across Sicily. In Tunisia Flying Fortresses sent heavy fragmentation bombs on to dispersed aircraft on a big German airfield. Allied fighters patrolling the Tunisian battlefield raked German troops with gunfire and killed at least 100. French pilots have shot down three Focke-Wulfs. There has been no news today of any operations by General Eisenhower’s land forces. The Eighth Army’s patrols, despite bad weather, have been keeping close on the heels of Rommel’s rearguard, retreating towards the Mareth Line. SANDSTORMS & RAIN. “The last stragglers of Rommel’s army have now been driven from Tripolitania,” says Reuter’s correspondent with the Eighth Army. “A fierce wind is sweeping in from the Gulf of Sirte, making hard going for the convoy drivers bringing up supplies for the Eighth Army, while inland the discomforts of sandstorms have been increased by a thin, cold rain. The conditions in the southern sector are improving, and the British patrols which are penetrating into Tunisia are finding the going better. “The enemy has been fighting back along most of the front, pairticularly in the sector between the sea and the line of great hills running parallel to the north-westerly sweep of the coast. The men are now drawing better ra- ( tions than they were during the desert pursuit.” TWO AXIS BOMBERS DESTROYED OVER TRIPOLI. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, February 10. A Middle East communique reports a continuance of patrol activities. Pelermo was bombed on Monday night and fires started. Our fighters, on the same night, destroyed two bombers attempting to raid Tripoli. One of our planes is missing from these operations.