Evening star., 1943-04-08
Time to Destroy
Afriko Korps Is Now
Major Eliot Discusses
Moment of Decision
In Bottle of Tunisio

By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.
We now come to a moment of decision
in the battle of Tunisia-not the final
decision but decision of very great
importance. The events of the next day
or two, perhaps Of the next few hours,
seem likely to determine whether Mar
shal Rommel will be able to effect juno
ton with the German army in the North,
bringing with him the bulk of his forces,
or whether a great part of Rommels
Afrika Korps can be cut off, surrounded,
pinned against the sea and destroyed.
This seems likely to make a great deal
OF difference as to the length of time the
Germans can retain any foothold in
Africa at all. If Rommel can join Won
Arnlm in Northern Tunisia the combined
forces can certainly hold out much longer
than Won Arnim's can alone This would
seem SO on purely material grounds with
out taking into account the effect on the
morale of Won Arnim's troops which the
destruction of the Afrka Korps might
produce.
The moment of decision is at hand
because the British 9Th Army, the strong
est and most experienced force at Allied
disposal in North Africa, has broken
through the last strong natural defenses
In Southern Tunisia and its powerful
armored columns are debouching in the
coastal plain. In this sort of fighting,
Rommel Is at hopeless numerical dis
advantage; he must avoid pitched
battle IN an area where the terrain helps
Gen. Montgomery rather than himself
Moreover, this is just the sort of open
terrain where the Allies can make the
best use of their tremendous air superi-
ority.
1T might be supposed in the face of
these probabilities. all of which were easiIv
enough to be foreseen, that Rommel
would already be moving his heavy trans
port and good part of his guns and
heavy armor northward. The decision
now to be taken very likely depends on
the extent to which this movement has
already begun. The conduct of a great
retreat, as Maj. Lewis Hastings, military
commentator for the BIC, points out in
recent broadcast, requires just as care
1ul organization and forethought as anv
other military operation of great extent
Under the existing conditions in TIL
hlsla' troops and transport must march
oy night and take cover by day; though
advantage may Of course be taken of
pad weather, dust storms and the like
Antl-arcraft defense must be provided at
all mating points as we'll as for units on
the march. Mobile elements must be
employed with boldneSs and skill TO cover
the fianks and rear of the retiring force.
Particularly. the Mine defense must he
adequately provided for. Rear and flank
guards may, in some cases, have to be
deliberately sacrificed as it seems prob
able may now be happening in the Ell
Guetar and Maknassy sectors. The last
tnlng that Rommel could stand would
be the sudden eruption of American
armor across the path of his retreat.
So considered, it will be seen that there
Is strong probability that much of
Rommels real fighting power may al
ready be we'll north of Sfax. or NAV even
be as far north as Sousse. The speed
with which Gen. Montgomery broke
through the Wadi Akarit positions does
not suggest a determined defense in
depth ny Rommels whole force but
rather desperate die where -vou-stand
rear guard action to cover withdrawal
Probably the principal unknown factor
at TINS moment is the amount of damage
that has been done by the Allied air
forces to Rommels retreatng columns.
Judging from the reports that have come
IN since the weather cleared two davs
ago, TINS damage has been considerab BILE
but the Afrika Korps is accustomed to
retreatlng under a hail of bombs and
bullets from superior air force and NAV
nave been able to save a greater part Of
It's men and equipment than would have
been possible to force less well Injured
to these trying conditions The other
unknown factor is the strength with
which Gen. Patton can now threaten the
flank OF Rommel's retreat Whatever he
can do, he must do quickly for the 9th
Army is out on the coastal plain and the
time to destroy the Afrika Korps sep
arately is now or never.
Copyright 1a4s. N Y. Tribune Inc)