Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1943. ACHIEVEMENTS IN TUNISIA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1943. ACHIEVEMENTS IN TUNISIA.

ALL expectations have been exceeded in the rate at which the Allied forces in Tunisia during the last few weeks, and not least during the last few days, have smashed and driven their way in that war theatre towards their goal—the extirpation of the Axis forces in Africa. An earlier period of delay and limited action, particularly in North Tunisia, following on General Anderson’s bold but unsuccessful attempt to rush tne defences covering Tunis and Bizerta, gave rise here and theie to a certain amount of pessimistic murmuring. Any delay that occurred, however, was fully accounted for by many weeks of extremely wet weather, normal to the region—weather in whitm armies using modern equipment were of necessity to a large extent bogged down—and for the rest by the time inevitably occupied in supply organisation and other measures of preparation for full-powered action.

How well that time was turned to account is now being demonstrated from day to day. The rate at which Kommel’s forces are being routed and hustled into Northern Tunisia, tne swift advance of the Eighth Army up the coast from Sfax to Sousse and in areas further inland and the more limited but important progress of British, American and French forces striking east through hill and mountain country towards the coast, constitute a series of military achievements only made possible by the valour and dash of the Allied fighting forces and by excellent planning and leadership. Hard fighting and no light sacrifice of lives of course has been and will be entailed untibthe end, but every reason appears for the confidence expressed by General Freyberg, amongst others, that the campaign in North Africa will be carried to a victorious conclusion.

As to the time that will be occupied in thus rounding off the campaign, those who are best qualified to speak—the commanders in responsible control of the Allied operations are saying nothing. In other quarters various estimates hav e been ventured—one of them that the Allies may have completed their task by June 1. With the question undetermined, it may be taken for granted that every practicable effort will be made to destroy the last elements of Axis resistance in North Africa before that date.

Some factors in the situation are by this time apparent even to.the non-technical observer. The enemy obviously will have some advantages in the concentrated defence of a limited area, though it seems unlikely that this area will much longer include Tunis. “On to Tunis'” was one of General Montgomery’s injunctions to his troops in a message issued on the eve of. the assault on the Mareth Line. Taking account of the possibility of attack from the west as well as from the south, the country around Tunis does not lend itself as well to defence as that around Bizerta, further north. Developed as a strong fortress and naval base, Bizerta is' to a large extent screened on the west by mountains penetrated only by narrow defiles and on » the south by marshes.

Against whatever prospects the enemy has of a concentrated 0 defence there is to be set the ability of the Allies to develop a tremendous concentration of attack by air, land and sea forces. The considerable advantage the enemy otherwise would have enjoyed in the possession of short-distance communications with Europe is at least very heavily modified by the relentless 'and highly successful attacks that are being made upon his sea and air communications by Allied submarines and aircraft.

The commanding fact of the Tunisian campaign to date is that the enemy, both in the south and in the west, has been defeated heavily’and driven out of strong positions in which he evidently ])lanned and hoped to make a protracted stand, lhat serious and costly efforts were made to hold a line extending into the southern extremity of Tunisia rather suggests that the Axis commanders are by no means hopeful of their ability to lengthen out their resistance for any great period at the northern end of the territory, in and around Bizerta.