Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-31
French in Africa Yield
To Nazi Pressure on
Pont-Du-Fahs Flank
New Lines Established;
De Goullists Continue
Advance in South
BY the Associated Press.

| ny the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. 31.-The British
9th Army kept patrol contact
with retreating Axis troops less
than 100 miles from Tripoli with
out specifically reporting new
gains today, while in Tunisia the
Germans brought armored forces
into action to the south against
the French-held Pont-du- Fahs
flank.
Reuters reported that the French
had withdrawn under this pres
sure from some advanced positions
in the sector 80 miles southwest of
Tunls, but they said they had es-
| tablished new lines in hilly ter
rain where Nazi mechanical forces
could not operate.
The Fighting French in London
said communique from Col. LIE
Clerc's Lake Chad headquarters an
nounced that "our motorized forces
continue their advance in the
Southern Fezzan" in a cross desert
push which has carried into Libya
some $50 miles south of Tripoli.
This force, moving for weeks over
desert terrain, Is now 300 miles or
more north of Lake Chad, the Fight
ing French base.
Only Patrol Activity.
The latest communique from Cairo
said yesterday there was nothing
to report except patrol activity from
our troops in contact with the enemy
west Of Wadi Bel Ell Chebir," 1870
miles from Tripoli. 1t added that
eight German Messerschmitts had
been shot down yesterday over the
Libyan battlefront by British fight
ers without single loss.
(The German high command
today said long-range bombers
made a surprise raid last night
on Casablanca, Allied Atlantic
port in Morocco, causing fires
which could be seen for miles.
GIN the Eastern Mediterrane-
an" the war bulletin said. "a
German U-boat sank a British
destroyer, as we'll as a naval
LraWler ana llgnter.
1.-THE same German U-boat off
Bengasi attacked a British con-
voy consisting of four big ships,
escorted by six destroyers. The
German U-boat, out of this con-
voy sank three transports total
ing $4,000 tons.')
No Indication of Stand.
In London military source said
there was no indication yet whether
Marshal Erwin Rommel's forces
would make their next stand at
Beurat Ell Hsun, just beyond Wadi
Bel Ell Chebir.
There was no definite evidence
yet that Marshal Rommel's main
force had pulled on through Tripoli
toward Tunisia, he added
This source also advised against
placing too much credence in re-
ports heard here yesterday that an
American column was pushing deep
into Southern Tunisia toward Gabes
to cut off Marshal Rommel's line
of withdrawal.
A Reuters report said yesterday
that an American force was within
40 miles of Gabes.
The military source said patrol
activity might have led to the re-
port Of an advance In strength in
this sector.
Italians Report Successes.
The Italians claimed that "in
TuniSia, under intensive fire of ar
tillery, the enemy was forced to give
up several positions" The Rome
communique, however, did not
specify the location OF this action.
The Morocco radio reported that
a few bombs were dropped last
night on the Allied port of Casa
blanca on the Atlantic coast of
Africa, causing some casualties and
damage.
CHS relayed a British broadcast
quoting the Morocco radio as re-
porting that continued Allied air
attacks on Tunis had made the air
drome there completely unusable, 4"
and had closed the harbor Of La
Goulette to Axis shipping.