Evening star., 1942-12-15
Allies Winning African Air Rule;
RommeI Continues to Retreat;
More Japs Landed onNew Guinea
Heaviest Attack
Made on Tunis:
3 Ships Hit
~ the Associated Press.

LONDON, Dec. 15.-Allied air
power, grown to such strength
that bombers coursed over Tunis
for four hours, was tipping the
scales against the Axis today in
the battle of North Africa as
Marshal Erwin Rommel's Libyan
army retreated from the Gulf of
Sirte coast in Central Libya.
The pace Of the British 9th Army's
pursuit Of Marshal Rommel was not
disclosed, but some estimates placed
British advance forces in Tripoli-
tania beyond the Marble Arch Air
field, 40 miles west Of Ell Agheila.
Military observers were surprised
at the weakness of the Axis stand on
the Ell Agheila line.
Axis forces are continuing their
retreat from the 81 Agheila posi-
ton while maintaining weak rear
guards which offer only slight re-
sistance," the Cairo communique re-
ported.
They are hindering our advance
by means Of large numbers of mine
fields which are being methodically
cleared up by our forward troops"
-Four Divisions in Force.
Observers in London said that
even after the defeat in Egypt Mar
shall Rommel should have been able
to muster sufficient force for a more
spirited defense in the favorable Ell
Agheila area, some of which, they
added, still might not have been
cleared of all Axis forces.
The Morocco radio in a broadcast
Of a dispatch purportedly from
Cairo, said that Marshal Rommel's
forces numbered four German divi-
sions, including two armored divi-
sions.
On the long, waterless road of
withdrawal, and at the Tunisian
supply ports at the other end of the
North African front, British and
American planes were taking ter
rifle toll.
The Cairo communique said "the
most successful attacks yet record
ed" we're made on the harbors of
Tunis and its port of La Goulette
Sunday night.
Aircraft were over the targets
for four hours in all and hits were
scored on at least three ships at La
Goulette, all of which were set on
fire.
Other Fires Started.
"Other fires were started on La
Goulette Island and near the main
dock at Tunis. One fuel fire could
be seen 100 miles away. Attacks
also were made on Tunisian rail-
ways"
The changing balance in air pow
er-key to the whole fight-Was seen
in the communique announcement
that from these attacks, from in
cessant strafing of Marshal Rom
mel's retreat, and from raids on
Axis shipping off the North African
coast, only two planes failed to re-
turn to their bases.
The italian communique acknowl-
edged the intensity of the air attack
on Tunis and said the port of Sousse
also was hard hit. 1t reported 200
killed Il two cities.
In contrast to the British an
nouncement of weak resistance, the
Italians said the Libyan fighting
had been violent, and declared that
"in spite Of enemy superiority in
men and material, the enemy ad-
vance was topped by the brave re-
sistance of Italian armored units"
Nav M 7 af%
That suggested that once again
Marshal Rommel might have left
his italian allies to fight whatever
rearguard action there was.
"a broadcast from the Ger
man-controlled Vichy radio said
Marshal Rommel was now ex-
pected to make strong stand"
against the British about 125
miles west of Ell Agheila-or less
than 800 miles from the big Axis
base at Tripon)
One hundred American P-40 fight
or planes specially fitted to carry
bombs were flying wing to wing
with Australian and British air.
craft in an effort to make the new
Gov Cp Gull vi iudl Slldl . IC.
treat another trail of smashed
trucks, abandoned troops and fire.
gutted equipment.
Allied fighter-bombers, an official
British announcement said, were
operating on an unprecedented
scale" and Axis air power was re-
ported totally ineffective in pre-
venting these operations.
Approximately 300 allied planes
were said to be smashing at the
German and italian columns head
ing for Tripoli, the only important
bastion of Mussolini's African en-
pire still in his hands.
Rains Hamper Ground Action.
In Tunisia, where heavy rain had
turned roads into strips Of mud and
hampered ground operations, the
United States Army Air Forces for
the second day laced the Axis sup
ply ports along the Eastern Coast
with destructive loads Of explosives
and incendiary bombs yesterday.
F1ying Fortresses shot down three
Messerschmitts which attempted to
Illustrate the attack on Bizerte and
Ttlnis.
FtRhter-bombers raided the rail-