Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-23
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.


The renewed German offensive in
Tunisia. which has given Marshal
Rommel the Kasserine Pass and is
being continued northward toward
Thala, should be observed with at
tention. This operation may still be
of local character only, directed
toward inf1icting as much injury as
possible on the Allied forces before
Rommel is compelled to turn south
ward to meet Montgomery. But
there is Just a chance that it may
turn out to be part of a more daring
and far-reaching plan.
1t is the fact that Rommel still is
pushing north despite the fall of
Medenine and the close approach of
the 9Th Army to the main Mareth
Line positions that tends to give
rise to the latter speculation. Under
such conditions the normal course
would, Of course, be for Rommel to
stand fast on the positions he has
won and to swing southwark with
the bulk Of his striking power to
deal with Montgomery. He may
stu intend to do SO; it may be that
his present proceedings are only in
tended to gain better defensive posi-
lions, such as the full possession of
Kasserine Pass, before making his
turn-around. But if he persists
much longer in his offensive, it may
become necessary for us to revise
our estimate of his intentions.
Revised Estimate of Strategy.
Such revised estimate might be
based on the following reason: Al
ready troops from the British LIST
Army have been drawn southwark
to support the Americans. This. OF
necessity, weakens the reserves be-
hind the LIST Army's positions in
Northern Tunisia. Further weak
ening Of these reserves might open
the way for an attack westward on
the British positions by the troops
OF Col, Gen. Won Amin in the
Tunis- Bizerte area.
II Rommel could, in the mean
while, smash his way into Tebessa
and then strike northward against
the east-west railways leading up
to the British front from Algiers
and Constantine, there is just the
possibility that the Allies might be
compelled to withdraw from Tunisia
altogether. This would leave Mont
gomery isolated, and if the Allies
could be pushed back into the vi
cinity Of Constantine, it might be
possible for the Germans to take up
defensive positions in Eastern Al
geria and then turn around and
deal with Montgomery with the full
mobile strength of Rommel and Won
Arnim combined.
There is one flaw in this reason
ing, and that is that, according to
the best available information, the
German strength In Tunisia does
not appear to be sufficient for op-
erations of such extent. Such a
plan would seem reckless and fool
hardy 70 the last degree unless it
were part of larger scheme which
involved an attack on the Allied po-
sitions in North Africa from some
other direction, thus compelling the
Allies to divide their forces and
preventing them from concentrating
their full power against Rommel
and Won Arnim. With the Allies in
fun command of the sea, such an
attack could come only through
Spain. There are rumors of picked
German troops moving toward the
Spanish frontier through France,
and of tightening of military and
police control in the frontier area.
These may be ominous signs.
Nazis Don't Expect to Win.
In estimating German intentions,
there is one factor in particular
which must be kept constantly in