Evening star., 1942-11-16
Allied Thrust al Africa
Made on Time Despite
Sub and Plane Attacks
Heavy Losses Inflicted
On Axis Efforts to
Disrupt Invasion
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ALLIED FORCE HEADQUAR-
TIERS IN NORTH AFRICA, Nov.
1s.-The large naval force, rang
ing from trawlers to liners, which
carried the Allied Expeditionary
Force to North Africa through thou
sands OF miles of submarine -infest-
ed waters, arrived on time in spite
of heavy U-boat and plane attacks,
the Allied force headquarters an
nounced last night.
A special communique giving full
details of the operations reported
that the Axis had suffered heavy
losses in planes and submarines in
attempts to disrupt the convoy
movements and, later, to hinder the
progress of the operations after the
troops landed. ..-.- 49,. WI,
The communique specifically men
toned five United States naval Of
flcers who played leading roles in the
operations, four of them named for
the first time They we're: Rear
Admiral H. K. Hewitt, command
ing the force directed against Casa
blanca, which was prepared in and
sailed from the United States; Rear
Admiral Robert C. Giffen, COM
manding United States capital ships
which acted as covering force for the
Casablanca operations; Rear Ad-
miral E. D. McWhorter, command
ing naval air force which supported
the operations, and Rear Admiral
B. H. Biori, liaison officer, and Capt.
Jerauld Wright, both on the staff of
British Admiral Sir Andrew Browne
Cunningham, commander of the en-
tire naval operations. Admiral
Hewitt's presence and command
was previously announced.
Operated Under Cunningham.
The communique follows:
Admiral Sir Andrew Browne Cum
ningham had charge of naval opera
tions. Preliminary planning for the
expedition was carried out in Great
Britain by Admiral Sir Bertram H
Ramsay pending the arrival OF
Admiral Cunningham from his
assignment in the United States.
The basic work contributed by
Admiral Ramsay contributed in a
great measure tC the excellent
timing and the smooth running of
the convoy movements which were
unprecedented in compleXity.
"The senior naval officers on the
staff, aside from Admiral Cunning
ham, include Rear Admiral B. H.
Biori, liaison officer of the United
States Navy, and Capt. Jerauld
Wright, United States Navy.
The Navy's responsibility consist
ed of insuring the safe and timely
arrival of the large expeditionary
force comprising many ships Of
varying tonnage and speeds ranging
from liners to trawlers which had
to be moved across more than 5000
miles Of submarine infested waters.
Never before in history have sea-
borne amphibious operations been
launched so far from their points of
departure without secondary ad-
vance bases.
Three Main Forces,
THE expedition was divided into
three main forces.
"One was directed at French
Morocco with Casablanca as its
center. This was composed of United
States ships commanded by Rear
Admiral H. K. Hewitt, United States
Navy, and was prepared in and
sailed direct from the United States.
The other two forces were aimed
at Algeria, with Algiers and Oran as
focal points. These were COM
manded by Rear Admiral Sir Harold
M. Burrough and Commodore
Thomas Troubridge Of the Royal
Navy. respectively. The conveys en-
gagged in the Algerian operations
were r-lted so as to pass through
the Straits of Gibraltar without mu-
tual interference and their arrivals
were timed so that assault troops
landed simultaneously on the beaches
at l am. November 8.
The diverting of different groups
OF assault ships to their striking
points and the taking up of accurate
positions close inshore in the dark
ness called for high standard of
navigation and ship handling on
the part. of merchant navy masters.
THE vital elements of surprise
necessitated wireless silence and the
minimum of visual signaling.
Every ship arrived and disem-
barked their assault troops punctu-
ally except for one which was dam
aged by a torpedo and which sub
sequently reached harbor. This
was the only casualty prior to the
landings.
Allied Subs Take Part.
"Cover against powerful Axis sur
face forces in the Mediterranean was
provided by forces of British capt.
tai ships and aircraft carriers. This
force was commanded by Vice Ad-
miral Sir Neville Syfret with Rear
Admiral Arthur L. st. G. Lyster in
command of the carriers.
"A force of United States capital
ships under Rear Admiral Robert
C. Giffen, United States Navy,
acted as the covering force for the
Casablanca operations against Vichy
or Axis interference in the Atlantic.
A naval air force under Rear Ad-
miral E. D. McWhorter, United
States Navy, supported the opera
tions. Allied submarines operated
and unremittingly, both
in the Mediterranean and the At
lantic.
Attacks by Axis bomb-carry-
ing and torpedo-carrying aircraft
against our sea-borne forces In the
Mediterranean in the days subse-
quent to the initial landings have
been of varying intensity, but the
performance of fighters
of the fleet air arm, the United
States Army Air Forces, and the
Raj and anti-aircraft gunfire OF
the warships and merchant vessels
have made these sorties by Axis air
forces q costly adventure.
Intensive attacks by concentra-
tions of Axis U-boats both inside
and outside the Mediterranean have