Imperial Valley press., 1942-11-09
Americans Take
Bases in Africa
BV Sudden Blow
Allied Reinforc emen+s Stream Ashore
At Algeria for Drive Thoush Tunisia
Against Remnants Of Rommers Army
- BY UNITED PRESS -

American forces famed out over French Africa at
remaining resistance points and quickly develop threat
to Tunisa the axis rear in Irpotanla and ltays Med
iterranean islands.
African base and U. S. and British reinforcements
streaming ashore. Already Allied fighter planes
providing for Americans from French airdrOmes
in the Agers Vchy reported that American
landings being made at Phlppeville only 100 miles
west of the Tunsan frontier.
Along both the North and West African coasts the
Americans appeared to be sweeping ahead rapidly u s.
troops were closing pncers on Oran and Casablanca
and landed fresh forces at half dozen Moroccan points,
including Agadir, Mogador and Mahdia
CASUALTIES SLIGHT '"
American casualties t.us far described slight
by Allied headquarters spokesman in London. Oran
seemed to be the center of French resistance in Algeria
AT most points the u s. troops said to have
encountered only desultory land resistance. French
naval units batled the American and British fleets at
points notably off Casablanca, and naval manned
shore batteries put up fight.
Axis intervention at a minimum. Axis planes
bombed Gibraltar lightly during the night and were re-
ported to have attacked the Allied fleet at Agers but
apparently with small results.
TWO SHIPS SUNK
Only Allied naval losses revealed thus far two
light units sunk in Oran harbor and transport damaged
The French fleet suffered losses in dvebombng
attacks at Casabanca
There still indication that the main French
naval forces at Touonhree battleshps five cruisers
and light escort shps-had been ordered into action
One report in London suggested that Admiral Jean
Francois Oar Ian, French commander-ln-chief may be
in Allied hands and considering an offer to come over to
Darlan was at Algers when the attack launched
and there have been axis suggestions that he and Cen
Alphonse Pierre Jun French land commander fell into
American hands there
If Darlan switched his allegiance it thought that
he might seek to his Influence with the French navy
not to intervene in the battle
ROMMEL CUT DOWN
The situation of axis forces in Libya appeared to be
growing by the hour Cairo reported that Marshal
Erwin Pommel has withdrawn his badly shattered troops
rpw numbering only 10000 to $4,000 far as Barda
He expected to continue westward hoping to outrun
the British pursuit and win time for reorganization.
The American threat to his rapidly building
up.
Hundreds of medium and heavy Allied bombers were
reported by London be ready to stream ashore the
Algerian coast and launch operations against Sicily,
Pantellera and the Italian mainland rapidly as the
French ardromes captured.
RACE WITH TINE
1t was expected that the Americans would drive east
into Tunisia for attempt to seize Bizerte, the key
French base directly opposite the Sicily narrows.
This may develop into race against time since the
axis may be in position to ferry reinforcements by
plane and ship the stretch of water from
Sicily to reinforce the French garrisons at Bizerte
Continued Page g. Col A.