Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-02
More Fresh Troops
Rushed by Hitler
To Tunisiu
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, Dec. 2.-American
and French troops were reported
today to have crossed the Tunis-
ian coastal road north of Gabes.
denying to Axis troops access by
land to the Libyan base at Trip
oil, as British and American
planes poured devastating
flood of bombs on the main AMI,
strongholds of Bizerte and TGnis.
Adolf Hitler was rushing troops
to Tunisia by sea and air in a des-
perate effort to stem the rolling AL
lied offensive to drive his forces into
the Mediterranean, dispatches from
North Africa said, and tremendous
air battles clouded the sky over
North TuniSia.
An Allied hea dquarterS Spokesman
SAID that despite evident setbacks TO
the German air force and Hitler's
apparent failure to build up his
ground strength by any substantial
relnforcements. both the German
land and air forces are still fighting
hard and making no effort to pull
out"
Italians Report Clashes.
The Italian high command vague
ly reported AXIS gains in armored
force clashes in Tunisia, but its
mention of some dozens" Of Allied
prisoners captured indicated only
minor, local encounters.
The German communiaue similar
~ reported that the Allies had been
thrown back by Axis counterattacks
at several points. 1t said nine tanks
were destroyed. eight British planes
shot down and Allied paraChutiSts
dispersed. Neither. however, located
these actions and gave no evidence
that they were on any ma jor scale.
In Libya. meanwhile, both sides
indicated that preparations were
afoot by the 6th Army to try to
crash through the Nazis' Ell Agheila
position. A British communicate
reported patrol activity against en-
envy artillery in that area. The
German radio said the British had
moved up reinforcements, including
tank division and more air fighter
protection for the 9th Army.
Break Through Reported.
The Morocco radio reported the
break-through to the coast in the
south was somewhere between Sfax
and Gabes, both places still in Axis
hands
SfaX Is l60 miles south of Tunis
and Gabes is 80 miles farther south
along the coast. Tripoli is about 200
miles farther to the southeast along
the coast. The radio report did not
say where the road had been broken
above Gabes. but the most likely spot
would be the junction of the coast
road with a small road leading to
Gafsa. about 20 miles above Gabes.
Both Sfax and Gabes have been
subjected to daylight aerial attacks
and the fighting apparently has
reached a scope and intensity not
previously matched in Tunisia.
British and American troops were
reported still driving a wedge be-
tween Tunis and Bizerte in the
north against the heavy resistance
OF German tanks and infantry. and
the Morocco radio said the British
LIST Army apparently was in contact
with the nucleus Of enemy resist
ance"
Allied forces were approaching
Tunis along two roads and were
within artillery range northwest of
the city. The heaviest fighting for
Blzerte apparently was centered on
the 28-mile road from Mateur lead
ing into the great French naval
base
Allied forces have been in pos
session of Medjez Ell Bah. 80 miles
southwest OF Tunis, since Friday.
delayed dispatches reported. Other
Allied troops, driving a wedge be-
tween the Axis troops in Tunis and
blzerte, were exerting great pressure
on the enemy east of Djdeida. a rail
center already in Allied hands.
AS the fighting ragged toward a
climax. Admiral Jean Darlan. for
mer Vichy defense head now CO.
operating with the Allies, assumed
the powers of chief of state in
French Africa as the representative
of Marshal Petain, who at present
is a prisoner" the Morocco radio
announced last night.
COnfers With Two Leaders.
Admiral Darlan's action came
after he had conferred with Gen.
Auguste Nogues. Governor General
in French Morocco, and Pierre Bois-
son, Governor General in French
West Africa.
Fighting French quarters here,
having watched Admiral Darlan's
activities in North Africa with sus-
picion, said the former Vichy official
apparently was attempting to
strengthen his political position
In an American air raid on Gabes
yesterday airdromes and railroad
yards were reported heavily dam
aged and SfaX also was attacked.