Evening star., 1943-03-19
Gofsu Sector Viewed
As Weuthervone'
Major Eliot Suggests
Thot RommeI May Flee
Before American Advance
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.

By Maj. George Fielding Eliot
Some sort of showdown in Tlnisa
appears to be approaching. Whether or
not it is the final showdown is as yet not
certain.
The situation may be described as
follows:
In Northern Tunisla, the holding al
tacks of the German forces under Col.
Gen Won Arnim have largely engaged
the attention of the British lst Army
and good part Of the French, but have
not gained much ground. Won Arnims
force appears to be growing slowly. In
recent operations IA battalions of Ger
| man infantry were reported AS being
engaged, which suggests that he has at
least two and very likely three infantry
divisions at his disposal Nevertheless he
is not strong enough to do more than
undertake local operations intended to
pin down his opponents rather than to
destroy them.
In the center. the Americans are again
advancing, this time apparently in con-
siderably greater strength than before.
They have reoccupied great part of the
loop railway between Kairouan and
GafSa, and have retaken Gafsa itself.
the most important communication CEN
ter in South Central Tunisia We are
informed that the American commander
IN TINS area is now 1t. Gen. George S.
Patton, which suggests the possibility
q Ar,,o
force may be present since Gen. Patton
is conmander of armored troops. If
Gen. Patton can now advance to Sened
and Maknassy. Marshal Rommel will
begin to feel the pressure on his rear.
II Gen. Patton can 90 on, marching as
our men were singing few weeks ago
from Maknassy to the sea-" Marshal
Rommel will be cut off from Gen. Won
Arnlm unless he has previously with
drawn from the Mareth line and raced
northWard
A good deal now depends on Marshal
Rommels ability to deal with this threat
TO his rear and communications. We do
not know how much his adventurous
excursion through the Kasserin Pass
Mareth Line against the British 9th
Army have cost him in striking power.
II he is so reduced that he cannot now
zeal with Gen. Patton's threat, he
may indeed be faced with the unpleas-
ant alternative of having to run for it
or being trapped between Gen. Patton
and Gen. Montgomery.
Judging him on past performance it
seems likely that If Marshal Rommel
thinks he has a ghost of a chance, he
Will try to use his remaining armored
force in another lightning blow against
the Americans. He must throw Gen.
Patton back or his freedom of action
Will be seriously circumscribed in his
coming struggle with the British 9th
Army.
Far TO the south, that army under its
lndomitable commander, Gen. Mont
gomery, appears to be making ready
Tor an all-out assault on the Mareth
positions. There is something in the
care and deliberation with which Gen.
montgomery prepares, and the terrific
force with which he strikes when all is
ready, that is reminiscent of the late
Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas in the
American Civil War.
But 1t might be we'll to remember that
in two previous encounters between Gen,
Montgomery and Marshal Rommel at
FL Ageila and the Wadi Zemzem, Mar
shall Rommel failed to await Gen. Mont
gomerys attack but fed as soon as Gen.
montgomery was ready to launch his
blow. This he may do again-his deci-
sion IN all probability depends on his
estimate on the real force of Gen. Pat
tons threat. Very probably if he thinks
he is unable to shove Gen. Patton back
ne Will decide to retire on Gen. Won
Arnim rather than risk the destruction
OF his force in a great battle of en-
circement.
The events of the next few davs NAV
therefore bring decisions of great i'm
portance in Tunisia, and points to be
most carefully watched are signs of anv
american advance east of Gafsa. or of
German attack in that region or sien,
OF German withdrawal northward
from Gabes. These are the indicators
which may tell us which way the wind
OF battle is blowing on the North Afri-
can front.
copyright, 1919. New York Tribune, Incl