Evening star., 1943-02-12
Weather May Delay
Tunisian Showdown
For Month or More
Light Bombers Attack
Sened, 9th Army
Keeps Up Pressure
BY TIE Associated Press,


BY tie Associated Press
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA, Feb. 12.-Unifi-
cation of the Allied command in
North Africa cleared the way to-
day for an all-out offensive to
drive the Axis from Tunisia, but
observers believed that bad
weather might delay the final
showdown a month or six weeks
more.
Storms swept rain and snow
across most of the Tunisian front
yesterday and communicates issued
both here and in Cairo disclosed no
change in the military situation.
Light bombers attacked enemy
targets at Sened, the rail town 20
miles west of Maknassy which an
American task force captured and
then evacuated last week. The
Cairo bulletin told of patrolling and
restricted aerial operations which
included the destruction of an Axis
seaplane anchored of the coast OF
Sicily.
(The British radio, elaborat-
ing on Reuters report that
British and French troops had
advanced miles in the Mateur
sector of the northern front after
dawn attack Wednesday, de-
clared that "a second advance is
now in progress" The broadcast
was recorded by CHS. There was
no confirmation of this report in
the days communicates
9Th Army Maintains Pressure.
The British 9th Army maintained
pressure on Field Marshal Erwin
Rommel by pushing 20 miles or SO
into Southern Tunisia.
The Italian high command
communique broadcast from
Rome said bad weather ham,
pered all operations in Tunisia.
It reported three Allied planes
shot down, including two tor
pedo craft which were declared
to have fallen before German
fighters between Rhodes and
Crete. Italian planes were de-
clared to have bombed harbor
installations of Bougie, Algeria
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, new
Allied commander in chief, con-
ferred, meanwhile, with British
Middle East officers to perfect the
plan of action and work out the
complicated supply problems in
VOWED in any campaign as large
as that which impends.
Allied leaders also busted them
selves with new troop dispositions
on the Central Tunisian front. where
fresh British and American troops
TOOK over mountain posts from
weary and poorly equipped French
forces which had borne the brunt
OF German armored attacks in jan
uary.
Axis Forces Outnumbered.
Rested and outfitted with new
American arms. these French forces,
commanded in the field by Gen. Al
| phonse JUN. are expected to play
an important role in Allied opera :
tionS against Southern Europe which
are planned for later in l943.
Their withdrawal from the front
placed an added strain on Allied
that when the Allied offensive in
Tunisia begins the Axis forces Will
be Outnumbered Allied sources pre-
viOuslY have estimated the combined
AXIS forces IN IuniSla at more than
ITO 1000 men, Of which more than
half are German. including air force
personnel
4 Prime Minister Churchill yes
! terday told the House OF Com
/ mons that nearly 100000 Allied
troops had been landed success
fully in North Africa. but said
the enemy must have nearly
7 100000 men IN Tunisia.J
AZ present the territory held By
the AXIS in TuniSla consists OF a cor
rldOr about 300 miles long and from
p to 100 miles wide, extending from
Bizerte southwark to the Maretl
line
Strong German forces are known
TO be guarding the Bizcrte area
which is the strategic Achilles hee
! OF the AXIS position. Regardless o1
whether Rommel and Col Gen. Jur.
gen Won Arnlm choose to fight tt
the last inch or attempt an "orderl,
evacuation" from Tunisia, they mus
hold Blzert until the last possible
moment.
Smaller mixed forces Of German:
and Italians are based in the STA,
and Gabes areas and advance force.
are holding positions in the rugged
mountains dominating the Gus.
Seltla valley and Fald Pass against
A possible Allied maneuver TO cu'
the costal corridor.
The strength Of the Mafeth Line
a. the lower end OF the Axis cor.
rldor, is problematical, but observers
agree that it constitutes a consid.
erable natural obstacle to tht