Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-17
African Offensive
By2 Speorheods
lsIndicuted
By the Associated Press.

by the Associated SfeS6.
LONDON, Nov. ia German
report that British and Ameri-
can motorized forces have
reached the Southern Tunisian
border area suggested today
that the Allies might be aiming
two armored Spearheads into
Tunisia, one toward Bizerte and
Tunis, along the coast, and the
other through desert and noun
tain trails directly toward Trip
oil to trap Axis forces in North
Africa.
There was no word from Allied
sources that the battle yet was
joined, but German broadcasts said
Nazi planes bombed British and
American mobile columns sweeping
along the coastal road from Algeria
to Bizerte and in the southern border
area of Tunisia.
(The German high command
said today that marching enemy
columns on the coastal road east
Of Bone and in the southern
border district of Tunisia suffered
heavy losses from our air attacks"
1t also said a l2,OOO-ton trans
port was sunk by a German SUBJ
marine in an attack on British
American supply fleet for North
Africa
Earlier Report Recalled.
What was meant by the southern
border area was not defined, but it
was recalled here that as early as the
middle of last week an American
force from Algeria was reported
moving southeast on the BouSaada
road in the direction of lower Tu-
nisia and a shortcut to Tripoli.
Nothing has been reported from
this column since.
Other desert trails, it was noted
lead to Southern Tunisia from the
Lake Chad region where American
and Fighting French forces have
been reported gathered in the north
of French Equatorial Africa. 1t is
roughly 1000 niles from the Lake
Chad country to the Tunisian border,
however.
Meanwhile, bad weather over the
Libyan desert curtailed aerial &C
tivity. and a United States COM
munique from Cairo said American
reconnaissance planes patroled the
desert without encountering the
enemy. British reports also sug-
gested that Fielo Marshal Erwin
Rommell's withdrawal had outdis-
tanced the British 9th Army in
pursuit across the hump of Cirenaica
Pursui. Delayed.
Military sources in London said
that what was left of Marshal Rom
mel's force had been able to delay
pursuit enough by rear guard action
and mines to prevent Gen. B. L.
Montgomery from delivering the
coup de grace.
Reports that the Germans had
landed 12-ton tanks by air in Tunisia
suggested to London observers that
the first of two newly organized Nazi
panzer air-borne divisions were being
thrown into the Tunisian test. One
of these divisions numbers some $500
fighting troops, $500 service troops,
and more than 200 tanks
Berlin broadcasts quoted articles
in the Nazi-controlled Paris press in
an effort to support the Axis thesis
that the Germans and Italians
moved into Tunisia with the full
understanding and approval OF
French authorities"
LIE Matin was quoted as saying
the announcement of the move from
Berlin and Rome would come only
after the Axis troops were solidly
in position.
Nov Rommel Is covered on his
western flank" lie Matin was quoted
as commenting, land he can, there
fore, continue his retreat move.
ments under the best conditions"
German Appeals to French.
Following announcements from
Allied headquarters that French
troops already were aiding the Al
lies, DNB said German It. Gen
Nehring had appealed to the French
population and garrisons of North
Africa to help repulse the British
and Americans.
Gen. Nehring is the commander
reported recently to have beer
(See AFRICA, Page Aid