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

Of the American units which had
landed at AlglerS, re-embarked for
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 a 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 airfields in the
ebessa-Gafsa area. Meanwhile.
our air units had moved into East
ern Algeria and were rendering sup
port to our columns from Inadequate
or improvised airflelds despite short
ages in gasoline and the great diff
flculty of supply.
Immediately following the land
tngs in North Africa, Axis forces
were rushed into Tunisia by sea and
air. AS early as November Is our
advancing troops encountered Ger
man patrols so miles west of Tunis.
The leading units of the British 1st
Army, with American reinforce
ments, reached Medjez-e Bah, 30
miles southwest of Tunis, on No
vember Is and took possession of
the airfeld at Djedeida on Novem-
ber 28. 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 mechanical and
artillery activity
Our Advance Repulsed.
Our advance on the Station de
Jefna, 80 miles southwest of Bizerte,
was repulsed OH 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 enemy's greatest advantage,
however, lay in the possession of all
weather airfelds, as the develop
ment of the rainy season for a time
rendered flghter-plane support of
our advance troops impossible. Diff
f1cultles 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. Medjez-
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
Frovn Afr;c,