Evening star., 1943-02-11
Stimson Warns u. ).
To Expect Big Africa
Casualties Soon
Heavy Fighting Seen
As Armies Move
Into Position
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
The Nation should get set for
heavy American casualties, per
haps in the very near future" Sec
retary of War Stimson said today in
a discussion of developing plans for
driving the Axis from Africa.
The opposing armies in Tunisia
are moving into position, he told a
press conference. and heavy fighting
is in prospect. This country is just
beginning to participate in major
offensive warfare, he said in his
mention of casualties.
Reviewing the wars progress, and
finding "a budget Of good news" for
the United Nations in the last week,
the War Secretary noted that ad-.
vanced elements of the British 9th
Army already have crossed the Tu-
nisian border in pursuit of the Ger.
man Afrika Korps. while in Western
Tunisia British, American and
French troops are consolidating
their positions.
Other Developments.
On other fronts Mr.. StlmSon re-
ported these developments:
The Russian victories are in
creasing in magnitude. with the
German forces in the Caucasus fac
ing destruction or a perilous evac-
uation either across the Kerch
Straits. the Crimea or by sea from
the Black Sea port of Novorossisk
Victory over the japanese on
Guadalcanal was hastened by an
amphibian operation in which
Army forces moved by boat around
the island under naval escort
landing near the northwest tip and
marching overland to flank the
enemy, who was caught on a mar
row strip of beach about Is miles
long.
Mr.. Stimson said that 1t. Gen.
Millard F.. Harmon, commander of
all Army forces under Admiral
William F. Halsey in the South Pa
cif1c, reported that during the last
two weeks Of January the two
Army divisions on Guadalcanal
killed 1000 japanese and took los
prisoners. while losing only 189
killed, 1898 wounded, and missing.
Dakotans See Action.
Mr.. Stimson disclosed that since
October 13 the 164th Infantry, a
former National Guard unit COM
manded by Col. B. E. Moore and
composed largely of men from North
Dakota, has been fighting on Guadal-
canal He added that the relatives
and friends Of men in this unit will
be proud of the regiments fighting
record"
'Other Army troops on the island,
he said, were the Americal Division,
composed of Army units which were
part of the initial garrison in New
Caledonia This division, and ma
rines who remained there after the
lst Marine Division was relieved, is
commanded by Maj. Gen. Alexander
Patch. In addition, the 25th Divi-
sion, commanded by Mai Gen. |
Joseph l.. Collins. ALSO is on Guadal- |
canal. 1t was the latter division,
Mr.. Stimson said, which in two at
tacks succeeded in turning the |
southern flank of the japanese,
practically destroying an entire
enemy regiment and capturing their
main base.
Navy Successes Cited.
The initial landings on Guadal-
canal, Mr.. Sti11nson recalled, were
carried out by the 1st Marine Divi-
sion. and for several weeks the ex-
tensive japanese naval operations
In the Solomons made 1t impossible
to maintain steady flow Of sup
plies to the island
For this reason, reinforcement |
and relief of the lst Marines by |
Army troops was delayed until a
series of brilliant successes" by the
Navy made it possible to send in
more men and keep equipment and
supplies moving to them.
However, Mr.. Stimson added, from .
the beginning of the operation in
August Army Air Forces partici-
pated in the Solomons campaign, |
and Army-Navy- Marine flyers !
shared Henderson Airfleld, built by
the japanese, but never used by |
them.
During the last three weeks, he |
said, a thoroughly co-ordinated of |
fensive has been under way, and
the fighting has been particularly
fierce. with the japanese resisting
with great tenacity.'