Evening star., 1942-11-28
Allies Appeal to Tou|on Survivors;
C|imactic Push Starts in Tunisia;
Reds Clear Nazis From Don Elbow
Paris Radio Admits
Allied InfiItrution
Into Axis Lines
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Nov. 28.-The enemy
acknowledged today that the
reinforced Allies had launched
violent attacks before the Axis
Tunis -Bizerte fortified zone, the
probable decisive battle-ground of
TuniSia.
This report, from the Nazi-con-
trolled Paris radio, supported Afri-
can reports that the climactic Allied
push to sweep the enemy from his
last strongholds in French North
Africa already was under way under
the sheltering wings of United States
and British air forces.
The Paris broadcast admitted an
inf1ltration into Axis lines in violent
fighting in the Mejez Ell Bah re-
gion, a tactically important COM
munications hub outside the Tunis-
Bizerte Notifications arc which Al
lied dispatches already had reported
taken.
Both Axis communicates, however,
mentioned only limited, local fight
ing on the two North African fronts,
Tunisia and Libya. The Italian war
bulletin reported a raid on the Al
lied airfield at Bone, Algeria, where
it said runways and grounded planes
were hit, and the Germans claimed
20 Allied planes were shot down.
Raj Strikes at Seaplane Base.
Striking deep at the roots Of re-
enforcement and supply for the
enemy in North Africa, the Raj
was reported by the italian COM
munique to. have struck in the area
OF the big Sicilian seaplane base of
Syracuse and on the Dodecanese
island of Leros, causing damage at
both places.
In Cairo United States headquar-
ters announced that United States
Flying Fortresses attacking Porto
lago Bay on Leros Island in the
italian Dodecanese possessions last
night scored hits on two merchant
vessels alongside jetties. The effect
OF the hits on the ships and dry
dock facilities were visible for Is
miles, the communique said.
Without detail, the Algiers radio
announced that the British 1st Army
the backbone of 1t. Gen. K. A. N.
Anderson's British, American and
French striking forces-had cleft
its defense positions for the big
offensive"
The period of patrol activity was
declared completed, this within two
weeks after the armored vanguards
crossed the Tunisian frontier by
mountain path and desert trail from
AEF-occupied Algeria.
The Swiss radio said the Allies
were within IL miles-With heavy
artillery range-of Tunis which. like
the naval base of Bizerte, has been
battered by repeated Allied air raids.
A United States War Department
communique announced the de-
struction of 81 more Axis planes,
aground and in combat and attacks
on an enemy armored column dur
ing operations which cost but two
of our aircraft. The pilots of both
the wrecked machines were saved.
Communications Bombed.
THE Allied air forces successfully
bombed enemy communications in
Northeastern Tunisia (the Bizerte-
Tunis area and fighter and bomber
patrols attacked enemy reconnais-
sance units" the communiuue said.
From the dominated
Paris radio came another claim of
effective action against Allied sup
ply lines.
Without confirmation from other
quarters, it broadcast Madrid dis
patch which said big convoy which
left Gibraltar Thursday was re-
ported back at the British base after
suffering important losses" under
attacks by U-boats and planes.
The approach of decisive COM
bat within Tunisia had been indi-
Gated by the Berlin radio yesterday
with the announcement of a clash
at Mateur, on the coastal railway Is
miles south of Bizerte and 40 miles
northwest of the capital.
Axis Claims Forces STRENGTHENED.
A DNB dispatch broadcast from
Berlin today said Allied forces in
the Tunisian highlands had been
strengthened "by several more units"
recently, but declared they appar-
emily were waiting for more weap-
ons and greater air support before
attacking.
1t said German planes repeatedly
raided Allied tank and supply COL
umns and shot down IL British air.
craft.
Hard fighting has been forecast
by Allied commentators in the final
phases of the efforts to squeeze shut
the wise on Hitler's last North AZ
rican strongholds.
Tank troops and air forces appar-
emily make up a large part of the
Axis detachments, estimated as high
as 10000 men, hastily moved In to
take over major Notifications of the
French protectorate. However, Gen.
Anderson's legion is likewise strong
in planes and armored units and
the heavy guns necessary for ac-
ton against fixed obstacles.
Some slackening in the pace of
Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery s
British 9th Army in the pursuit OF
Marshal Edwin Rommel's battered
forces across the vast reaches of
Libya has been indicated by Cairo
communiques this week.
For the second day in succession
British Middle East headquarters
announced today there was nothing
to report" from Gen. Montgomery's
forces.
Successful bombardment of the
Gherbini airdrome of Sicily and
Portolago Bay of the Dodecanes
Islands was reported among Allied
aerial operations.
Bombs burst among hangers and
buildings at -Gherbini and hits were
scored on jetty where ships were
moored In the Dodecanese raid, the
communique said.