The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-16


 dle Eastern command reported the probable preliminaries to . great battle occurred yesterday.
 Patrol activity increased and casualties were inflicted on the Afrika Korps in several sectors, the British communique said.
 Tripoli, the big Axis supply base in Tripolitania, was rocked by heavy formations of bombers Thursday night, and again during daylight yesterday. A railroad station and military stores were hit, and fires ragged high over the wreckage. Low flying Allied fighters shot up tar. gets in the desert battle area, and on the Afrika Korps' road to retreat toward Tunisia.
 Inasmuch as the communique re- ported yesterdays events, the battle could already be raging.
 Despite their increased offensive in Tripolitania, Allied bombers and fighters of the Middle Eastern Conn mand did not cease their attacks on Axis forces in Tunisia. The commu- nique said railway trucks between Gabes and Sfaz and fuel trucks north of Gabes were attacked and destroyed.
 Having earlier said that Monte gomery had deployed 10 divisions - three of them armored-in the Wadi zem Zem area, 165 miles east of Tripol, the German official news agency claimed that he was now ready to open his attack.
 Attack Suspected Today
 Montgomery Is expected to launch his attack on Jan. l6," an agency dispatch broadcast by Radio Berlin said. Masses of mechanical Britssh units and artillery have been con- centrated opposite the southern wing of the Axis forces. To all ape pearances, the British commander in chief will repeat his already sev- eral times frustrated attempt to encircle the Axis forces by large- scale attack from the desert"
 Although the dispatch was sus- 1 pected because of its origin, 1t was thought here that such plan would be characteristic of Montgomery. daring commander whose intention has been to annihilate the Afrika Korps.
 If Montgomery could encircle tha part of the Afrika Korps that es- capped destruction at Fl Alamein, he would save the Allies great deal of trouble. If the Afrika Korps were destroyed east of Tripoi, then Tripoli itself, probably would fall without fight. The so-called little Maginot Line. along the Tunisian- Tripoitanian border, would also be obviated as an obstacle. If Marshal Erwin Rommel, presumably intend- ing to withdraw into Tunisia, could reach the little Maginot Line he might be able to give the Allies con- siderable difficulty there.
 Allied reports from the desert yes- terday said sandstorms were giving the Eighth Army trouble, although they apparently did not greatly irl- terfere with air activity. The Axis had reported fierce fighting in Tunisia. but a communi- que from Allied North African headquarters yesterday said there was no change in the ground situa- ticn. But the air offensive against Axis objectiyes in Tunisia went ahead without letup.
 The German official news agensY continued to report strong attacks in Tunisia today. It said the French had attacked again in the eastern reaches of the Atlas Mountains. blt had been repulsed. leaving many dead and half their tank force" on the battlefield.
 Lively patroling in the Medjez- El-Bab area southwest of Tunis inc dicated that the British and Amer jeans were going to revive fighting in that area soon. the Germans said. and concentrations of Amer jeans southeast of Tebessa had been confirmed.
 Royal Air Force pilots on leaga from the Tunisian front reported 70 Allied North African headquarters that the British. American and French air forces now hold sir superiority over Tunlsia. Fee meant that they have, gained air superiority throughout Africa. be- (Continued on Page 2l