The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-16
Vanguard May Be Near Airports Guarding Key
 City of Bizerte ITALIAN FLEET IS
 REPORTED IN ACTION Heavy Plane Losses Sus. tained By Nazis in Effort
 to Reinforce Tunisia
BY EDWARD W. BRATTnE United Press Staff COrrespendentE

DL EDWAnD We DEAA AAE United Press Staff COrrespendentE
 London, Nov. 16.-CUP)--. A powerful Anglo-American force drove into Tunisia to- day, its advance guards clashing with an estimated 10000 Axis troops in the Bizerte neighborhood amid reports of a major naval battle off the African Sh0e and indications Adolf Hi Ter may attempt to shoot taT works" in an effort to block A control of Africa and the Met ranean.
 An Allied communique, hroadcast over radio Morocco, reported the Allied force, spearhesded by the British first army, is pushing east ward as rapidly as possible.
 Other reports placed it's vanguard already close to the key French air bases around Bizerte which Lieuten. ant General Kenneth A. N. Ander. son said were the initial objective of his troops.
 Italian Fleet Tn Action
 The Axis radio claimed that as least part of the Italian fleet = stiffened with with Maxi warShips- 1 had gone into action against an Anglo-American naval force in the Waters of the Algerian coast.
 Anderson reported that 10000 Axis troops already are ashore in Tunisia, largely concentrated at the air bases for which his speedy arzn- ored columns are driving. The Nazis were pouring air power and achievements into Tunisin despite heavy air losses - e1 planes. thus far oil the Tunisian coast and blasted on the ground at Tunislan airdromes.
 Allied observers believed this tn- dicated that Hitler has chosen to attempt to meet the Allied threat in Africa with a major effort in an attempt to keep the vital jumping of ground for an Allied offensive against the European mainland out of British and American hands.
 Italians On Guard
 Already. according to reports hy the Bern radio. the Italians are maintaining a close watch along their long, vulnerable coastine for any Allied invasion thrusts.
 It was believed doubtful that the Germans have any naval strength except submarines and possibly some motor torpedoboats in the Mediterranean. And it also was doubted that Hitler would be ahle to muster enough force ir Tunigia to make possible extended resist ance to the Allies.
 However, 1t was said that the tn- creased Luftwaffe activity indicated he is throwing into the fight every thing he has available much as the British sent their expeditionary into Greece, despite the overwhelrns ing odds against them.
 Lieutenant General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Sir Ber- nard Montgomery. it was felt. were fully prepared to complete the par- ailel of the Greek campaign-an rs- verse.
 Marshal Erwin Rommei is esta- mated to have about 10000 men left of his original Afrika Korps plus another S0.000 or 10000 Italians. However. most of these men are communications and base troops not first line fighters.
 Anderson estimated Axis strength In Tunisia at 10000 men and said that considerable numbers of Ger man Lunftwaffe personnel already were on the ground.
 Anderson reported that his men were continuing our advance east ward as rapidly es possible" ard said the initial objective was @azr- dromes now in enemy hands"
 He reported that the Germans had suffered heavy air losses ia Tm-
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