Evening star., 1943-03-21
LuII in Tunisiu

Another spell of torrential rain has
begged down ground operations even
in normally dry Southern TuniSia,
while a dense curtain Of cloud and
mist has kept air operations to a
minimum. This renewal of bad
weather presumably accounts for a
dying down of the intense activity
of the British 9th Army before the
Axis-held Mareth Line. in the ex-
treme south, which Berlin reported
some days ago as the beginning of
major offensive by General Mont
gomery.
Little can be done by either side
until the weather clears, and even
thereafter some time must elarse
before the clay soils of Northern and
Central Tunisia dry out enough for
tanks and artillery to maneuver in
open country off the roads. In the
south, however, where the terrain is
mostly rock or sand. there need be
no such delay Therefore, If Mont
gomery really is set for a decisive
push against the Mareth Line, it
should be launched right after the
advent of clearing skies.
Berlin seemingly expects that such
a blow impends and is concentrating
to meet it. This probably is the rea-
son why Rommel has abandoned
without fighting the last of the
ground he won from American troops
in Central Tunisia some weeks ago.
Ron1mel is now back to his original
lines which run across a belt Of
rugged hill country that bars access
to the coastal plain and the south
ern ports of Gabes and SfaX, some TO
miles away. Only two practical
passes lead through those hills, and
both are said to be heavily fortified.
1t is against those twin gateways to
the coast that strong American
forces under General Patton are
Slogging across rain-drenched coun-
try from newly rewon Gafsa and Ell
Guettar. Desperate Axis resistance
may be anticipated; for an American
break through toward the coast
would imperil the Axis life line.
Rommel would then be faced with a
bitter alternative. Either he would
have to abandon hastily both the
Mareth defenses and the secondary
defense line of the salt lakes just
behind, or he would risk being cut
off there and crushed between the
closing pincers Of Patton and
Montgomery.
The theaters of major operations
in Tunisia thus lie, at least tempo
rarily, toward the south. In North
ern Tunisia, where the British First
Army confrontS the Axis forces of
General Won Arnim, bad weather has
been at its maximum. Also, both
sides occupy strong lines in extremely
rugged terrain. Won Arnim makes
frequent jabs at the British, probably
with the dual purpose of exerting
constant pressure and probing for
weak spots. But large-scale fighting
there seems unlikely in the imme-
diate future.
Meanwhile, the Allied naval and
air blockade is hammering away at
the Axis sea-borne communications
with nearby Sicily and Italy, taking
a steady toll of Axis shipping loaded
with troops and supplies. Conversely,
the Axis is sniping at Allied sea lanes
to Africa, especially in the Atlantic,
where U-boat wolf packs are very
active. Those long-range campaigns
of attrition should not be forgotten.
They form a vital element in the
general strategic picture.
BY and large, both sides are brac-
ing themselves for a supreme test
of strength which must come during
the spring. On the outcome of that
mighty struggle depends not merely
Tunisia, but also mastery of the
Mediterranean and the exposure of
Southern Europe to Allied attack
Those are the larger stakes which are
being played for.