Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-05-11
French Troops March
Into Tunis 10 Cheers
OF Freed Residents
Giroud Expected Soon;
Political Differences
Are Forgotten
By holland NORGAARD,


TUNIS, May 9 Delayed French
troops of Gen. Henri Giraud
marched into Tunis today and re-
ceived an enthusiastic welcome from
civilians who only two days ago
were under German oppression.
A regiment of Tunis' own troops,
many of whom fed to join the
Allies at Algiers few hours before
Axis war planes circled above the
capital last November 10, was
chosen to lead French forces into the
city.
Whatever political differences ex-
listed among Frenchmen were for
gotten as column. paced by a
band, marched through the main
streets. fearful men and women,
many of whom wore the Lorraine
cross of Gen. Charles de Gaulle, ran
into the streets to kiss soldiers
marching along.
Gen. Giraud, himself, was ex-
pected to enter Tunis.
JUN Named Governor.
The city already has been brought
under his administration. Gen. Al
phonse JUN, commandment of French
forces in Tunisia. has been named
provisional resident general pending
the resumption of duties by Gen.
Charles Mast.
There was no indication of the
fate OF Admiral Jean Esteva, be-
Wlskered governor general who con-
tlnued to hold Office under Axis
| control. In the last six months. the
Vichy-sponsored admiral had signed
orders compelling first the Jews,
and later Frenchmen and even Ital-
1ans living in Tunisia, to do forced
labor on the docks in clearing away
debris from Allied bombings.
Esteva was reported to have been
taken handcuffed from the city in a
German car presumably because the
Axis feared he would throw in his
lot with the Allies and WELD what
ever power he had left
Allied troops gained for the first
time the story Of the people of Tu-
mis- and their life under Axis doni-
nation
On November 10. two days after
the Allied landing in North Africa,
Warplanes bearing the German
black cross, circled ominously over
the city and then the German and
Italian troops began to arrive in
large numbers.
Poured in Reinforcements.
Most of us believed it would be
easy to conquer these Axis forces"
a young Frenchman related; then
about three weeks later, we could
hear guns and learned that the
Americans and British had reached
first Tebourba and then Djedeida.
But soon the shooting faded and
then German troops began march,
ing American prisoners through
the streets. The Italian population
was very rude. Many spat at the
prisoners
Time passed without the Allied
troops arriving and the Germans
continued to pour in reinforcements,
many in transport planes. German
soldiers were almost everywhere,
and they began to requisition
houses, obliging Jewish families to
move from their homes without no
tlce. Soon they began to arrest Jews
on the streets and march them of
with picks and shovels to clear up
bomb litter.
Not all the italians in Tunis we're
pro-Fascist. The French and Jews
alike told with admiration of anti
Fascist Italians who chose to 60 to
prison rather than bow to Axis rule.
Army Modified.
After the Allied landings in No
vember Gen. Barre, now one of
Gen. Girauds commanders in Tu-
nisia, ordered the mobilization Of
T'unisian troops. Hundreds prompt
ly fled to Algiers to join the French
Army.
The same day of the landings.
the project of Tunis police ordered
the release of Communists and SIM
liar political prisoners who were
being held by orders of Vichy. The
project subsequently was arrested
and sent to France.
Some of the released Communists
have lived in hiding since, housed
and fed by friends who faced a
: death penalty if detected. A Com
munist journal was published clan
} destlnely each month and copies
were placed in many mail boxes.
A few days ago the distant roar
of cannon could be heard and the
few who dared to listen surrepti-
tiously to the British radio learned
that Massacault had fallen to the
, British.