Evening star., 1943-04-15
Eisenhower Calls
Romme| Great, but
NOT a Superman'
Allied Commander
Sure Axis Will Be
Ousted From Africa
By the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA, April 15.-Gen.
Dwight D. Eisenhower calls Marshal
Erwin Rommel "a great general but
mot a superman" and adds he is
confident that the Axis leader and
his troops, despite his generalship,
will be thrown out of Africa.
The commander in chief of the
Allied forces in North Africa made
known these views in an interview
with Philippe Soupalt for France
Afrique,' the French news agency,
which was published today in the
weekly Tam.
DO you think the Afrika Korps
and Gen. Won Arnlm's army are
crack troops, or can they be classed
as representative of the German
army of l943?" Gen. Eisenhower was
asked.
During the last three months Ger
man troops in Tunisia, which were
composed of first-claSs units, have
undergone intense training and have
been carefully organized" the gen.
eral replied. They are we'll COM
manded, well trained, have a very
high morale and fight with skill and
courage"
Must Not Underestimate Axis.
Asked whether the delaying tactics
Marshal Rommel is using in Tunisia
has modified the strategical situation
in the Mediterranean, the general
said:
'Rommel is doing all he can to
hinder the Allied Army advance with
unWeakenlng energy. He will con-
tinue to try to slow us up as long as
possible, but the Allied armies are
progressing according to plan"
The next question was: After his
defeat in Tripolitania can Rommel
who, the German propaganda pre-
tended. was invlncible, be considered
AS great strategist as the Germans
would have one believe?"
''Rommel is certainly great gen.
eral. He is not superman. Com
manded by him. the German Army
in Tunisia is force which we must
uOL UNDERESTIMATE.
Gen. Eisenhower added that
"every soldier, every commander.
English, French Or American. has
the firm intention of annihilating
the German army in Tunisia."
He made no forecast as to when
annihilation would be accomplished.
Praises French Troops.
Gen. Eisenhower said the Ameri-
can war material has lived up to
all expectations"
Asked his opinion of the French
troops under his command. he said
The morale of the French troops
Is extremely high. They are excel
lent fighters from all accounts.
The French Army when it is re-
equipped will represent for the AL
lied cause a force whose worth can
not be estimated What strikes me
in the North African Army is it's
business-like quality. They know
their business"
Gen. Eisenhower said the re-
equipment of the French Army
N'oio 81 loi w dId dS dS
possible and on the lines laid down
by Gen Giraud."
The general characterized Gen
Glraud as "a real friend and added
"he is a great general who is ami
mated with the same desire as my
self to beat the Germans. He knows
what he wants and when he wants
something he gets it. We will work
we'll together because we like to col
laborate and We have the same ends
in view"
AS to cooperation between French
and American troops. he said com
radeshlp between the French and
Americans is real. Undoubtedly be-
hlno the lines the language difficulty
hinderS complete determination, but
at the front comradeship and mutual
understanding are apparently very
strong and continually growing
With each and every American SOL
dler, who comes from every corner
Of the United States, there exists a
warm feeling for the French people
This traditional friendship be-
tween Frenchmen and Americans
is not merely hollow sham. Even
with our most unsophiSticated boys