Evening star., 1942-12-21
Russians Drive Rolls on TO Edqe
OF Ukraine Toward Donets Basin;
Axis Masses Men to Go to Tunisia
Enemy Said to Be
Gathering Convoy
In French Ports
BY the Associated Press

LONDON, Dec. 2l.-The Axis
was reported today moving its
forces from Tripoli and diverting
men and material even from the
hard-pressed Russian front in
order to make an all-out fight for
Tunisia in the wake of two-day
military and political confer
ence at Adolf Hitler's headquar-
terS.
Neutral and Allied sources re-
ported that huge convoy was being
assembled in Southern French ports
to rush reinforcements from Europe,
and that Marshal Erwin Rommels
Afrika Korps and Mussolini's tat
tered legions might give up Trip
olitania altogether in order to con-
centrate every available man and
gun in the struggle for Tunisia.
A Reuters dispatch from North
Africa said Allied patrols had cap
tured Italians from Tripoli who were
trying to link up with Gen. Walther
Nehring's Tunisian forces and added
that there were indications that part
of the Italian garrison of Tripoli also
was moving by sea to Tunisia.
Convoy Reported Massed.
The Daily Mail. in a dispatch from
Madrid. said 1t was reported from
Vichy that the Germans were plan
ming large-scale attempt to REIN
force the Tunisian forces with
convoy of $50 French ships massed
in French ports for the risky cross
ing.
The presence of Pierre Laval,
Vichy chief of government, at the
Friday and Saturday conference with
Hitler and Count Galeazzo Ciano,
italian Foreign Minister. unofficial
quarters pointed out, may be linked
with some such Axis plan.
Observers coupled reports that the
Axis was prepared to use in North
Africa even the weapons and men
needed on the Russian front with
the statement of an Allied spokes-
man In Algiers that I'VE have a lot
of long, hard fighting ahead of U.S."
Meanwhile, the British were
progressing slowly through dense
mine fields in Libya, where they had
reached the region of Sultan. 40
miles. west of Ell Agheila and 255
miles from Tripol.
Both Allied and Axis reports told
of lively patrol activity and much
air fighting in Tunisia.
Ports Are Attacked.
The Rome radio. quoting the high
command, said advanced Axis ele-
ments were being kept busy re
pulsing enemy units" Harbors and
ships at Bone and Philippeville in
Algeria were attacked by italian
bombers and many direct hits
scored, the communique said.
The British communique from
Cairo said Allied aviation continued
to make Marshal Rommel,s retreat
a nightmare, and pounded his re-
treating columns with particular
effect at Buerat Ell Hsun, 60 miles
northwest of Sirte.
While the Axis was believed to be
getting out of Libya, informed opin-
ion here was that Marshal Rommel
would use every conceivable means
of rear guard and delaying action
In order to gain as much time as
possible for consolidation of the
position at Tunis and Bizerte. T
These developments conceded
with news from Allied headquar-
ters in Tunisia that French troops,
supported by American fighter
planes, had recaptured Pichon, 60
miles west of the port of Sousse and
81 miles south of Medjez-El- Bah,
which is key point in the struggle
for Tunis and Bizerte.
Gains Reported Held.
A spokesman at Allied headquar-
ters said American fighters had
knocked out at least 10 enemy
vehicles in the action around
Apparently referring to the same
action, French headquarters in
North Africa reported earlier that
French troops had occupied German
positions west of Kairouan-which
Is rs miles east of Pichon-and had
held their gains In the face of
strong enemy counterattacks.
The Germans suffered considera-
BILE losses and number of Nazi
prisoners were taken, the French
said.
Except for this action Allied head
quarters had nothing to say of land
operations in Tunisia except that
the Allies were consolidating their
positions on the northern and