Evening star., 1942-11-13
BY WILLIAM KING.

BY WILLIAM KING,
United States War CORRESPONDENT with tn,
AEF in Africa.
: WITH THE UNITED STATES
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, EAST
OF ALG1ER6, Nov. 9 Delayed -
United States soldiers swept in from
the Mediterranean to take all vita,
objectives east OF Algiers in a single
day against opposition which was
fierce in spots.
The attack, which was the east
ernmost tip Of three-pronged
thrust against French-held North
Africa, was launched with a am
landing by assault troops with wave
after wave of soldiers, vehicles and
artillery following throughout the
night and day.
With an armistice in effect this
merning, battle-stained soldiers be-
gan setting up defensive positions
against possible counterattack and
making preparations to occupy the
remaining points in this area.
A heavily-guarded convoy brought
troops into position for landing op-
Grafton in combat transports
promptly on schedule Saturday
night.
Silently and in total darkness,
landing craft were lowered into
choppy water and the first assault
troops swung oversize on nets of
heavy rope and took their positions
In the boats,
Marched on Airport.
In simultaneous operations. units
from this battleforce made landings
on three beaches in the neighbor-
hood of Sintaya and Surcouf,
promptly on the fixed hour of am.
The easternmost beach was used
for vehicles and artillery, United
States amphibious infantrymen
raced up the deep sand of the middle
beach and British Commands
headed the attack on the third.
Wave after wave Of men and
materials followed at intervals Of
10 minutes to half an hour.
The first company of the battalion
on the middle beach began marching
toward the airport at Maison
Blanche Immediately after hitting
land. Other units followed swiftly
and the 11-mile march was COM
pleted without rest.
The spearhead of the advance on
the airport was commanded by Capt.
Frank Gum of Crawfordville, Ca.
whose company circled the giant
field and attacked from the south
east.
A second company commanded by
Capt. Oscar Thompson of Atlanta,
Ga, attacked at the main entrance.
First 1t Edwin Perry of Framing
ham, Mass, said as he led his
platoon across the field there was a
short burst of fire from fixed
machine-gun position manned by
Algerian troops, but before he could
order answering fire the Algerians
stood up and surrendered.
Met Token Opposition.
Similar token opposition met the
company attacking the main gate,
but the airport was taken without
the firing of United States shot
and there we're no casualties on
either side.
The troops reached the field at
545 am. and it was In their hands
at $40.
Our troops captured an italian
warplane and Junkers SO German
divebomber on this airport. A num-
ber of French fighter planes also
were on the field The French ad-
ministration of the 'drome was not
disturbed, but the normal guard was
disarmed and replaced by American
soldiers.
This operation was under the
command of 1t. Col. A. H. Rosen-
field, former Camden IN. j.
lawyer.
Another battalion commanded by
Maj. Joseph Grigg of Darlington,
S. c., landed and started in the
direction of Maison Carree but en-
countered opposition from dual
purpose anti-aircraft guns at Fort
Deleau and suffered light casualties.
Countering with mortar fire, the
French guns were silenced and the
batterymen surrendered but were
released a short time later.
The Commands also ran into
trouble when they attempted to 81
1ence batteries commanding the
eastern part of the harbor at Al
giers and threatening transports
and cargo ships lying off the
beaches. The French commandant
of one battery refused to surrender
but his men refused to man their
guns.
Fortified Battery Resists.
Against another stubborn posi-
ton naval fire from British cruisers
and dive bombing were brought into
play. A fortified battery finally was
taken by short-range fire from a
United States cannon company
manning 75s.
This correspondent stood on a
cart in farmyard which served as
temporary regimental headquarters
and watched bombardment few
miles away.
From this same position I watched
as Axis air forces pressed home a
terrific attack just before nightfall
on transports and beach on which
vehicles and troops still were being
landed.
High level and dive bombers
dropped high explosives but were
driven off by massed fire from the
transports guns and supporting fire
from British naval vessels. s.