Evening star., 1943-05-08
Occupation
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Occupation
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armored scouts of the 1st Army's
Derbyshire yeomanry.
All the while scattered enemy
guns lobbed shells into the suburbs
from high wooded ground north of
LIE Bardo, adjoining the city.
The Hussar troop, followed bv a
patrol OF the first rife brigade, ad-
vanced along the main highway into
the city as amazed civilians rushed
to the curb cheering and tried to
pat the dusty vehicles with their
hands.
Crowds Needless of Danger.
Needless of danger although occa
slonal bullets whined in the air and
explosions from the enemy's des-
perate attempts to demolish supply
depots spewed high flames from at
least seven points in the area,
French and native populations lit
orally danced with JOY at the sight
OF the first British soldiers,
German snipers were increasing
their fire from roadside buildings, so
rifle patrol returned to the cross
roads and brought in armored cars
to mop up.
About 4:40 pm. the armored cars
passed through the Kasbah gate.
Ihe gate is made of ancient stones.
Light machine guns cracked from
second-story windows near an ar
mored car in which Sergt. William
JORDAN OF London was riding, film
ing the scene for the British Army
from. behind a turret. Two Ger
mans in an automobile attacked the
armored car by slipping up and
throwing grenades. Sergt. Jordan
narrowly escaped and the ,Bren
gunner in the car whipped his
weapon around and killed both
Nazis.
Armored cars took positions in
adjacent alleys and engaged the
hidden enemy with small arms
while the call went back to the
crossroads for assistance of Amer
ican-built Sherman tanks.
Shermans Go Into Action.
Two Shermans rolled swiftly into
action. Four rounds of Is shells fired
over open sights at a distance of so
feet smashed a German post and
enemy soldiers began streaming
from the building, their hands up.
Inc nerce but short struggle was
photographed practically from start
to finish by Sergt. w. F. Lowell of
Maiden, Mass, American official
war cameraman, who with his driver,
Aloysius Unsen of Dubuque. Iowa,
were the only American soldiers in
side Tunis at the time.
Sergt Lowell took shots with his
camera. and Unsen took shots at
the same time-with a submachine
gun.
The enemy about the Kasbah en-
trance was cleaned out completely BY
pm. but for two hours afterward
British advance guards drove above
the central districts of the city
blasting down sporadic German
sniping.
Entering Tunis in the near dusk,
at Z pm, in British staff car was
a tumultuous experience for this
correspondent who had covered three
Allied defeats in Poland, Greece and
Burma before coming to North
Africa. For once. city welcomed
its conquerors with overwhelming
affection.
Fires Dot Plains.
Farmer folk lined the country road
waving tricolors and union Jacks
they had retrieved from hiding
places for the great occasion.
Fires dotted the plain under sky
dark with rainclouds.
At the main highway junction,
hundreds of German prisoners milled
around British trucks.
Take another dozen, Harry"
called a red-capped military police
man to driver whose vehicle al
ready was crawded with khaki and
blue uniformed Nazis hugging small
bedrolls.
Give me a million of 'em" the
otherwise unidentified Harry shouted
back.
Sleek steel monsters-American
made Shermans-roared through to
a green park for the night. Tank
men cooked supper in the open, sur
rounded by jubilant French admirers
of all ages.
All the way into town from there
newly surrendered prisoners were
seen marching-almost jauntily-
toward the junction while civilians
cheered wildly at passing staff cars.
Some of the prisoners were under
guard while others sauntered along
unescorted.
Wine Stocks Thown Open.
French cafe keepers threw open
their wine stocks to celebrate the
occasion. Soldiers grinned at the
big show from their vehicles which
were parked near roadside trees, but
remained onlookers.
Proceeding to the old Roman arch
making the border of the teeming
Kasbah was like a triumphant
parade along Fifth avenue in New
York City, missing only confetti.
And there was q din of shouts
from two walls of humanity that
lined the route:
"vive Ia France!" "vive de
Gaulle!" -. "vive les Anglais!"
"Viye Ia victoire!"
After six months under the boot