The Wilmington morning star., 1942-12-30
Interpreting
The War
BY KIRKE L. SIMPSON

Red army IN Russia dominate the
War news, there are increasing
signs that the reunited Anglo-Am-
erican and Fighting French allies
in Tunisia will soon attempt 10
break the stalemate there.
No such intimation can be read
in French or Anglo-American buI.
letins from the scene. They have
depicted for many days only give.
and-take positional struggles for
tactical advantages or clashes of
scouting patrols.
Nevertheless, there can be small
doubt that General Eisenhower
command is making ready behind
that screen to crash forward in
force to crack the Axis hold on the
Tunisian foreland. This will be done
if possible before Rommers army
fleeing from Tripolitania can el.
fectively join forces with air and
sea borne Nazi comrades rushed
to garrison the Bizerte and Tunis
triangle and its shirt-tail corr.
dor down the Tunisian east coast.
Doubt that Rommel aims to Of.
feet that junction in Tunisia is
rapidly diminishing. Fightins
French sources report his advance
elements already filtering into tn.
nisia across the southeastern bog.
der.
If that is SO, the remnants Of
the once victory-Wreathed African
corps are strung out for nearly
300 miles along the coast Of Tri-
poEtanla from the Tunisian border
to the point 180 miles east of Tri.
poll where its rear guard is in
ever-retiring contact with British
Imperials. The head of the Steel
snake inching its way into Tunisia
if that is its destination, is still,
distant more than 200 miles from
the indicated south flank of the
Allied line hemming in the Bizerte-
Tunis triangle.
West of Sousse, Tunisian port ON
the Gulf of Hammamet which an
pears to be the main objective Of
the French commanded by General
Giraud, Allied advance lines are
less than 40 miles from reaching
the sea and interposing between
Rommel and the Tunisian foreland.
The unanimity with which General
Giraud's elevation to succeed mur-
dered Admiral Darlan as leader
in French Africa was hailed even
by General de Gaulle in London
is heartening omen.
1t seems to mean that Giraud
can count fully upon the unity Of
his fighting forces at moment
when French valor and French
arms, supplemented from Ameri-
can and British stocks and back
ed by American air power, could
deal a death blow to Nazi hopes
of concentrating all Axis forces in
Africa to hold the Tunisian fore
land and still bar the Mediter-
ranean waistline to Allied use.
It seems fitting that Franch in
Africa, resurging at last against
the Nazi conqueror of the moth
er land, should test its fighting
mettle anew in so important q
phase of the battle of Tunlsla.
Nothing could go farther to pro-
mote French fighting unity under
Giraud than a French military VIC
tory paving the way for complete
annihilation of the foe in Africa.
The French fight to cut off Rom
meFs retreat while the British
close in upon him from the rear
could be the birth pangs Of new
and free France. There are psy-
Geological as well as military val.
ues involved for all France and
the world on that French held right
e,ank of the Allied lines in Tunl-
sia
Rommel appears to recognize
his danger. There is growing evil
derce that he is using every means
at his disposal to bypass the Sous
se-Kairoun line by sea with some
of his munitions and heavy equip
nent, if not men. Allied planes
are rowing eastern Tunisian coast
al centers to balk him by land or
sea and aid the French effort
to thrust across his line of north
ward retreat. And now come Lon
don reports of British submar nes
downing Axis supply craft in the
Gulf of Hammamet itself.
-V