The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-27
q the weather was Too dlfficult.

II the weather was too difficult.
However, Gen. George Patton,
In charge Of the West African
operation, was determined TO
get his troops ashore, and luck
was with him. The day he
landed turned out TO be one Of
the callnest In 90 years. Next
day when he sent some remain
ing troops ashore, the seas were
high again, SEINE boats capsixed
and men were drowned.
Luck continued with us In North
Africa. One stroke Of luck was
Admiral Darlan. He had count.
ed on Gen. Giraud, but he was
able to stop French resistance at
first, and Admiral Darlan,s inter-
vention saved days Of fighting.
Another fortunate break was the
swift advance Of the British
Eighth Army In Egypt, pushing
Romrnel across Libya.
RAILROADS BURN GRASS
That all Of these lucky t-e KS
should happen at once was more
than U. s. strategists had counted
on. Result was that we landed
largely with q defensive army, not
prepared to take an immediate
offensive against German troops
In Turisia.
Having found himself In this
fortunate position, Gen. Eisen-
hover did his best to take I'D.
vantage Of the lucky breaks.
His troops advanced along the
French Algerian railroad and
the coastal highway as fast as
Jpossible. However, the railroad
IL Q limping line Of commune
cation. No coal was available,
10 grass and straw were burned
IN the locomotives. The high
way Il good as far rs the border
Of Tunisia, after which for
strategic reasons it was never
hard-surfaced, and II becomes
. m0rass Of mud.
Despite these handicaps, the u.
s. Army advanced to within 10
miles Of Bizerte much to the
surprise Of everyone In Washing
ton. American parachute troops,
dropping on German airfields
we'll inside Nazi lines, were able
to hold them, thorugh surrounds
ed by the enemy. For q time
1t looked as II we would take BIZ
zerte by Thanksgiving.
U. s. LUCK TURNS
However, Just as luck was with
us at the start, so luck turned
against us later. Everyone knew
that the North African rains were
due at about this time, and the
fact that the expedition was
three weeks late In starting
brought the Tunisan battle right
into the rainy reason. Further
more, the rains this year have been
heavier than in many years.
AiEports seized from the Naxis
became swamps. Gen. Jimmy
DOoiittle, landing On one airport
In q bomber, took twenty min
utes for lunch and when he
came back to his plane It was
begged Down 10 the faselage. Il
te0k three tractors and q crew
Of men digging bitches TO pull Il
out.
Meanwhile the Germans could
operate their planes from concrete
runways just 20 minutes across
the narrow neck Of the Mediter-
ranean In Sicily.
Meanwhile the Germans could
operate their planes from concrete
runways just 20 minutes across
the narrow neck Of the Mediter-
ranean IN Sicily. III
Then occurred one other factor
which no one bargained on. Hit
Ter began pouring men into
TtiniEia. Why he did II was Q
mystery. No one expected him
20 hold TSinisla. The meu~ ne
was sending In seemed certain 70
be on q suicide mission--in fact
stan seems 80.
Bl6AxI&8lN0 y. y. PRESTIGE
But now hls strategy Is more
apparent. Undoubtedly Il Is 70
lower American prestige, ehatteg
the reputation established By y,
s. fro6ps IA tie last war when
they crashed Through tie AFsonno
and CliateausT nleFFy - win the
waF. Hhatieflne this prestige,
Hitler figures. Nill have lfg efleet
upon Spain, llpon tie people OF
France, Belgium. Holland where
the United states may invade
neat summer.
Dut eyon mere lmpeElant nit
laFis GifalagF IA XMmlala q %
hleeh AZ Aillea lmg8eiem 81 ihe
NeiEnn8.
8of manlha fle ueEmans have
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