The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-18
Nazis Succeed in Ferrying Achievements Across
 Mediterranean
FRENCH MISSION FROM
 DAKAR IS REPORTED
Strategic Air Base Secured By British Sth Army in
 Pursuit of ROnlmeI
BY EDWARD ". BEATTIE Limited Press Staff Correspondent,

(Unhteu Press Statt C0rreSp0ndcnll
 London, November 18. (UP) = Reports from Spair. today said that several Amer ican columns are driving across the waist of Tpnisia in a pincers movement de- signed to cut off Axis forces in the Bizerte-T e-TuniS area from any possible reinforce. ment by Marshal Erwin Rommel's troops in Tripoli- tania.
 The Madrid reports. based on advices from Algiers, indicated the U. s. troops had encountered little, if any, resistance thus far.
 In the Bizerte and Tunis areas, these reports said, hard fighting was reported between British -para- troops and German endorsements hastily ferried by air across the Mediterranean.
 The Germans were said to be sll- perior in numbers to the British and to have beaten of a British attempt to seize Fort Despagne which cozn- mands the land approaches to Bi- zerte.
 Germans In Control
 The Germans were reported gen. orally to be in control of the Bizerte- Tunis area and to have taken over Fort Laugoulet which guards the narrow entrance to the Tunis har- bor.
 This was said to have enabled the Italians to send in coastal shipping with troops and guns. Another report said that a French military mission from Dakar was enroute to Algiers, possibly bringing a confidential message from Gov Gen. Pierre Boisson of Senegal to Admiral Jean Francois Darlan.
 It was speculated that the mes- sage might relate to the possibility of Boisson casting his lot with the Darlan group and other pro-Allied French leaders in North Africa. Planes Are Active American and British planes pro- vide an aerial umbrella for the de- veloping Tunisia offensive. They patrolled the coatsline, constantly on guard against heavy ship-borne reinforcement which the Germans are believed attempting to move into Africa.
 To the east the rapid advance of the British 8th Army-it was ex- pected to occupy Benghazi by night fall-brought strategic air bases un- der Allied control. They were ex- pected to play a vital part in smash ing Axis attempts to reinforce their weakened Africa forces.
 Royal Air Force units at Malta also were on the alert-both against conveys of Junkers 52-troop carry ing planes and an effort to bring in. possibly under protection of the Italian fleet, some fresh Nazi troops believed to be assembled at such points as Salonika, Greece, southern Italian ports and Sicily.
 Allied submarines, it was believed, may be concentrated in the narrow waters of the Sicily channel and olI the Tunisia coast.
 There was increasing belief here that the Germans not only would attempt to put up the strongest re- sistance possible in the Bizerte- Tunis sector but that Marshal Erwin Rommel plans a big delaying action along the Gulf of Sirte. Supplies Are Problem
 Tn no previous offensive have the British been ehle to get past Fl Aghelia due to supply problems of the long route west from Egypt. This time. 1t was believed. by eoordinaEed air patrol from east and west and control of the sea coasts, the ns3t-
 (Continued on Paee <l