Evening star., 1943-09-15
GEN. MARSHALL'S STORYt
of the
Army and the War
of the
Allies Land in North Africa-French
Co-operate-Nazis Rush Reinforce
ments-Darlan Assassinated.
CHAPTER VIII.

Va VIC hiHciiCdH unlJS which EaC
landed at Algiers. re-embarked fol
a movement eastward to Bougie
where they landed on November IL
An overland march immediately fol-
lowed and Bone was occupied the
following day by two companies OF
British parachutists and COM
mando unit which arrived by sea
On November Is orders were issued
Tor the movement of French troops
then at Algiers and Constantine to
protect the southern flank of the
American and British units which
were now advancing into Tunisia
along the coastal corridors crossing
the frontier.
The French units were reinforced
with American troops. including
tank destroyer units, and one of
their assigned missions was the pro-
lection of advance airf1elds in the
leoessa-Gafsa area. Meanwhile,
our air units had moved into East
ern Algeria and were rendering sup
port TO our columns from inadequate
or improvised airfields despite short
ages in gasoline and the great diff
f1culty of supply.
Immediately following the land
lngs in North Africa, Axis forces
were rushed into Tunisia by sea and
air. AS early as November 16 our
advancing troops encountered Ger
man patrols so miles west of Tunis.
The leading units of the British lst
Army. with American reinforce
ments, reached Medjez-el-Bab, 80
miles southwest of Tunis, on No
vember Is and took possession of
the airfleld at Djedeida on Novem-
ber %. Farther to the south Allied
units reached Pont du Fahs and
American parachute troops were
operating in the Sbeitla -Gafsa area.
Axis resistance steadily increased,
with intensified mechanized and
artillery activity.
Our Advance Repulsed.
Our advance on the Station de
Jefna, 30 miles southwest of Bizerte,
was repulsed on November 80.
Strong Axis counterattacks with
tanks forced Allied Withdrawals
from Tebourba, but similar enemy
aggressive action directed against
Medjez-el-Bab was successfully re-
sisted. The short and easily main
tanned air and sea lines of commu-
nication between Sicily and Tunisia
permitted the rapid buildup of the
Axis forces. The nearest ports of
Allied entry at Bone and Philippe
vile were of very limited capacity.
The enemys greatest advantage,
however, lay in the possession of all
weather airfields, as the develop
ment Of the rainy season for a time
rendered f1ghter-plane support of
our advance troops impossible. Dif-
flculties OF supply became so serious
that active operations were practi-
cally suspended in early December.
Meanwhile the enemy rapidly rein
forced his positions, which assumed
the character of bridgehead pro-
tecting the Bizerte- Tunis area and
extending southwark to cover the
bases into the coastal plain leading
to Sousse, Sfax and Gabes. Mediez-
el-Bab remained the key point of
the Allied position.
In the midst of this campaign the
assassination of Admiral Darlan
created a political crisis which was
met by the action of the French
North African governors in desig-
mating Gen. Giraud as Darlan's sue
cessor.
Tomorrow - Eisenhower Assumes
Supreme Command In Africa-Bat-
tie Of kasserine Pass-Spring CAM
paign Against Rommel-Axis Driven
From Africa.