The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-11-19
Climax in Drive Across North Africa Due This
 Week-End ITALY BELIEVED TO
 BE READY TO BREAK Great Losses Suffered By Italians; ParachuterS Pave Allied Advance
BY EDWARD W. BEATTTE United Press Staff Correspondents


 United Press Staff Correspondents
 London, November 19. = (UP) - An Allied Army esti- mated at 300,000 men moved on TuniSia today with strong indications the climax of the drive may be reached by this weekend. Axis positions in Africa were beset by a three way Allied offensive. The British 9th Army was clash ing with Marshal Erwin Rommels rear guards south of Benghazi and from the Lake Chad region, 1900 miles south of Tripoli, an American and fighting French force was re- ported racing north across the almost trackless desert.
 London observers believed ths Allies were bending every effort td bring the African campaign to stunning conclusion and open the way for attacking Nazi Europe and l particularly the Axis weak spot Italy.
 Already Fighting
 The Nazi radio in Paris reported from North Africa that the British and American expeditionary force already was engaged in battles with the advance guards" of the Axis troops in Tunisia.
 There was growing belief hera that Italy's war making ability was willing and this factor was expected to play an important role in the final drive to break Marshal Erwin Rommel's power in Tripolitania.
 The bulk of troops available fol the Axis last stand in Africa wers said to be Italian
 Italian losses in the war were ess timated already to be running closs to 100000 men.
 Fascist Losses
 Including divisions in which casus alties have been estimated at "a per cent or better the British break down Fascist losses in this manner: Lost in Gen. Sir Archibald wav- els first African offensive: Foru regular Italian divisions, four black shirt divisions. two Libyan divi. sions: lost in Gen. Sir Claude Aus chinleck's second African offensives two regular Italian divisions; lost iu the current offensive: Eight regu- lar divisions; lost in the East Afri- can mop-up about 12 regular and Blackshirt divisions and 25 native divisions; lost in the Greek cam- paign II divisions.
 Italian losses in Russia and in the continuing guerrilla war in the Balkans are known to have boosted their casualties substantially.
 Entering Tunisia
 On the west the British-Americau army under Lieut.. Gen. Kenneth A N. Anderson was entering Tlinisia in force behind United States and British parachute troops who had seized numerous points of strategic value and at least one important airdrome. while British and Ameri- can heavy bombing planes including Flying Fortresses blasted Axis con- centrat!on points.
 On the east forward clements Of the British Eighth Army under Gen. Sir Bernard Montgomery had by passed Benghazi, the great Axis mid- Libyan base and, in contact with the Axis rear guard were believed to be pressing on Fl Agheila only 475 miles from Tlnisia.
 An all-Frenc!: AfGly WAS reported advancing northward along the L. 300-mile caravan trail from the Lake Chad region of West Africa to coni- plete the envelopment of the Axis forces.
 Stockholm dispatches reported that in all 10000 Allied troops were now driving on the Axis forces in western Libya and Tunisia.
 Raids In Italy
 Radio Morocco said that Grand Admiral Erich Raeder. German navy commander-in -chief, had arrived in Southern Italy to make desperate attempt to get the Italian navy in action to help move reinforcements to the African front.
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