Evening star., 1942-12-28
Romme| Is Near
Last Point for
Stand in Libya
Approaches Misurotu
In Flight; French
Claim Major Advance
BY the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. 28.-Marshal
Erwin Rommeps retreating Al
rika Korps was rapidly ap-
preaching MiSurata today and
there it must decide either to
make a stand or give up all
MuSsolini's Tripolitania and join
the Axis forces in Tunisia, where
pelting rains kept Allied and
Axis armies at a standstill.
Gen. Sir Bernard L. Montgomery
reported in a Cairo communique
that his British 9th Army had en-
gagged Marshal Rommels rearguard
in the region of Wadi Bel Ell Chebir
40 miles west of Sirte and only
about Is miles east of Buerat Ell
Hsun. The Libyan shore bends
northward there toward Misurata
and forms a huge hump in the
coastline.
Flanking marshlands and hills in
the immediate stretch ahead gave
Marshal Rommel his most advan-
tageous position to stop and fight
since his defeated army pulled up
stakes at Ell Agheila, 22O miles east
| of Ruerat FL Hsvn
If Marshal Rommel abandons the
Misurata positions, he has no place
to stop short of Tripoli, and even
there he perhaps can make no pro-
longed stand. The Morocco radio
reported Marshal Rommels men
already were streaming into Tripoli.
ROmmel in Bad Spot.
Although he might save men and
material and strengthen the Axis
forces in Tunisia by quickly aban-
doning his Libyan positions. mill
tary commentators pointed out that
the 9th Army and its powerful air
force would be at his heels and
ready to join the British 1st Army
| in two-way drive on Tunis and
| BiZerte.
The Italian high command ad-
mitted today that reconnaissance"
activity was growing more intense
in the "Sirte region" of Libya, g.
term it uses to obscure the extent of
the rout in Tripolitania.
1t claimed that Allied attacks in
Tunisia were repulsed, however, and
the German high command said
some ground had been gained by the
Axis there.
The only ground action reported
from the Allied side was from the
French forces guarding the southern
flank in Tunisia. The French claimed
an important advance south of
Pont-Du-Fahs, about 80 miles south
west of Tunis.
The Axis air force was being COM
PEELED to move from one airfield to
another so rapidly in Libya that it
was able to put up practically no
opposition.
Join Action for First Time.
In Tunisia, American P-4O War;
hawks, newest model of the Curtiss
fighter plane, were in action for the
first time, escorting Flying For
treSSes in attacks on Sfax.
While Middle East aircraft at
tackled Tunis and Sousse Saturday
night and dropped bombs which
burst in the main basin and on the
electric railway depot at Tunis, the
Flying Fortresses also kindled fresh
fires among ships and docks at BIZ
zerte.
The American air force continued
shattering attacks on enemy ship
ping, docks and transport in Tu-
nisia yesterday, while ground activ-
ity was limited to patrol action.
Flying Fortresses, escorted by
twin-motored Lightning fighters,
successfully raided Sousse harbor on
the east coast, and one ship was
blown to pieces by the shower of
high explosives dropped on the har-
Dor and waterfront. Warehouses
and docks were hit
All Planes Return Safely.
The Lightnings and P-4O War
hawks, entering the fray for the
second day. meanwhile shot up nu-
merous vehicles in forays along the
roads by which the Germans are
attempting to reinforce their posi-
tions.
All the planes in these attacks
returned safely.
The Morocco radio broadcast a
French communique announcing that
100 prisoners were taken by the
French as they forged ahead, i'm
proving their positions.
In the attack on Bizerte and Sfax
the Flying Fortresses started a num-
ber Of fires among the docks at BIZ
zerte and scored hits on their tar
gets at Sfax, an Allied communique
said yesterday Two large ships
were reported sunk in Sfax Harbor
Fighter planes which escorted the
Fortresses shot down two enemy
planes.
Supply Line Attacked.
Other Allied nghter planes
ranged over Tunisia attacking Axis
land supply lines. railroads and 10
comotives and barges of the coast,
the communique reported A Ger
man gun position near Medjez-El-
Bah. the center of the most recent
fighting by American and British
troops, was attacked by Hurricane
bombers.
Two Of the Fortresses were lost in
the raids on Bizerte and Sfax and
two other Allied planes were lost
during the days operations.
Allied ground troops were reported
tSee ROMMEI. Page A-12)