The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1943-03-06
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The Tunisian Lines, which
last week were changing rapidly
under the German advance, are
now pretty sharply delineated, when
veteran Axis divisions broke thru
the southern range of mountains at
Faid Pass and Sidi Bou lid, over
ran Gafsa, and poured into the
plains at Sbeitla, Kasserine and Fe-
riana, the Allied forces were forced
to retreat, forced also to abandon
three airfields and destroy or aban-
don quantities of equipment and
supplies, and to take up positions
in the second range of mountains,
the so-called Grand ForsaI' that
runs from Pont Du Fahs southwest
ward just east of the Allied strong
hold of Tebessa.
The thi eat to the right rear of
the British First Army, immobiliz-
cd by mud in northern Tunisia Just
in back of Bizerte and Tunis, was
apparent when the German columns
continued their advance, pushing
through the Kasserine pass of the
Grand Dorsal range toward Thala
and Tebessa. Had this drive been
successful, had the German forces
succeeded in storming the passes
and moving up toward the Coast,
the Axis could conceivably have
broken the whole Allied defense in
this area.
That this did happen was cred
1t, said Secretary of War Stimson,
to the fine action of American
ground forces, the great skill of our
air support, and the valuable help
given by the British First Army.
Our forces were not broken by the
Germans, on the contrary, the coun-
terattack that checked the enemy
IN the passes northwest of Kasserine
and hurled him back almost ten
miles was success. And although
American losses in the first 10 DAYS
of the Axis offensive were heavy,
they were probably not as large as
first expected, as several American
units which were cut off have made
their way back through the Axis
lines. Losses admittedly included
substantial quantities of tanks, scout
cars and field guns, but much of
this material has already been re-
placed.
For the immediate future, Mr..
Stfmson predicted heavy fighting all
along the Tunisian front I'VE must
expect setbacks and casualties. We
must not expect any easy or quick
victory in Tunisia." And to correct
a misunderstanding on the employ
ment of green" American troops
in the recent fighting, MIR. Stimson
explained that although our men
are highly trained up to the point
of experience under fire, there is
no substitute in training for for ac-
tual battle experience "men
must learn under fire the strategem
of war"
The Battle Aainst the Submarine
Following the Navy's disclosure
that German submarine had been
sunk by an American destroyer in
the Atlantic and a japanese sub
marine destroyed in the Pacific by
the armed crew of an American
Merchantmen, Secretary of the
Navy Knox stated that although our
Merchant ship sinkings were les.y
last month than the month before,
and although no doubt there have
been other U-boat sinkings by AL
lied forces, the submarine most
emphatically'' is still very grave
menace All measures that we know
that could help reduce the suma-
rine menace are being used, Mr..
Knox said, but there is nothing on
which to predicate any hope for
early stoppage or cure. The day be-
fore, the Navy had announced Sc
rious loss-the submarine sinking
of two passenger-cargo ships in the
North Atlantic with approximately
$50 casualties, both civilian and ser
vice personnel-more than 600 of
the 900 aboard the first vessel and
more than half of the 500 aboard
the second ship.
T~1T