Evening star., 1943-01-26
Sees RommeI Fucinq
Difficult Decision
Military Writer Declares
Fox Now Must Fight
In Terrain Unknown to Him
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.

The crucial sector Of the Tunsian
battle area is not, for the moment, the
-Bizerte triangle in the extreme
northeast, but rather the open desert
flank of the Axis positions along the
eastern coast from Sousse down to Gabes.
The ports of this coast (Sousse. Sfax
and Gabes) are important to the Axis
supply system and the railway and high
way along the coast, connecting these
points, is the main line of communica-
tions between Gen. Jurgen Won Arnim's
forces in the Tunis- -Bizerte area and
Marshal Rommels Afrika Korps, which
has just evacuated Tripolitania.
In order, however, to continue to use
these ports and this road and railway.
the Axis must find a means to prevent
an Allied drive through the desert from
the west. There are some indications
that such an Allied move is in the
making.
The Germans report large concen-
tration of American troops at Tebessa on
the Algerian -Tunisian frontier. and this
would be natural place to concentrate
an attacking force, because it is served
by two lines of railway from the interior
OF Algeria. West of SouSse, American
tank forces are reported to have engaged
energetically and successfully in a coun-
terattack against the Germans, and ad-
d1tional American armored troops are
reported arriving in this area. Farther
south, an American raid on the Axis out
post at Maknassy also is reported.
From the Axis point Of view, the de-
fense Of the northern part of their
coastal line appears to depend very
largely on their continued possession of
Kairouan, the Holy City" of Tunisia,
which Is threatened by the American
tank operations above referred to. Far
ther south 1t is upon outpost positions
such as that at Maknassy that the Ger
mans must rest their hopes of a sue
ceSsful defense.
The unknown factor entering into this
situation is the mobile portion of Marshal
Erwin Rommels Afrika Korps. Is it
strong enough to deal with the increas-
ing Allied pressure from tne west? Ger
tainly 1t is far better trained in desert
warfare than any of the troops, either
OF the British 1st Army or the American
5th Army, and experience counts for a
great deal in this type of fighting. But
We must not forget the veteran British
9th Army, now pressing hard on Rom
mels heels
1t would seem that either on the
Mareth Line or at the narrow defile of
Gabes, between the salt marshes and the
sea, Marshal Rommel must make stand
to hold back the 9th Army while he
attempts to deal with the threat to his
flank and communications.
The 9th Army has just completed a
most trying march across the desert
of Tripolitania. It's officers and men are
tired. It's machines are badly in need
Of overhaul. Its supplies may very we'll
be running low. 1t has, however a new
advantage in its possession Of the port
of Tripoli through which it can receive
supplies and reinforcements by sea direct
from Egypt There seems little doubt
that the retreating Axis forces carried
out extensive demolitions in Tripoli, but
we have had repeated examples In this
war of the rapidity with which such
difficulties can be overcome. Ordinarily,
one would be inclined to the opinion
that the 9th Army would require some
time for rest and refitting after reaching
Trlpoh as well as for the reconstruction
OF the port facilities and the building up
OF fresh ammunition and supply depots.
However, the crucial Importance of con-
tinuing to press the pursuit of Marshal
Rommel Is such that Sir Bernard Mont
gomery Is not likely to pause very long
before beginning his drive to the north
ward into Tunisia
1t remains to be seen whether the
American threat to his flank, plus Gen.
Montgomerys pressure on his rear, will
be great enough to prevent Rommel from
making stand on the Mareth Line or
elsewhere in Southern Tunisia. He NAV
have no other intention save that of
hurrying northward as fast as he can
to join with Gen. Won Arnim in a last
ditch defense of the Tunis-B -Bizerte tri-
angle. His decision probably depends
on whether he thinks he can hold off
Gen. Montgomery with one hand while
defeating the Americans In Central
Tunisia with the other. He will not give
up the east coast ports unless he has
TO, both because of their value to him
and also because they would be very
useful to our forces If they fell into our
hands. There is no doubt that the old
desert fox Is faced with a very difficult
decision as he enters a theater Of war
with which he has no previous expert
ence and encounters a foe of whose
capabilities he knows little. The situa-
ton is extremely fluid. If Marshal
Rommel makes a mistake, he could find
himself cut off from Gen. Won Arnim.
surrounded and facing complete de-
struction almost overnight. On the
other hand, If he is capable OF gaining
smashing success against our mobile
forces in Central Tunisia he might by
so doing prolong the African campaign
by many weeks-and we must remember
that the Germans in Africa are fighting
principally for time.