Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-04-18
The War
Today
Much Fighting
Still Due Before
Tunisia Falls
Nv REAR ADMIRAL

CLARK n WOODWARD, U.S.N.
Copyright. ist3. International News Service
MOTE: The opinions err
vrsssed and tke assertions made
herein are my oVn and are not
10 be construed as official or re-
fleeing IN any tody the UteWs o.
the worry department or the HauGt
service at ldree.D
AS THE curtain goes up on the
climatic scene Of the North Africa
campaign, the phase which began
with the Allied invasion is just
coming 10 an end and the greater
phase planned at Casablanca is
about 70 begin.
The stage is all set for the final
and decisive battle of TuniSia.
Axis armies occupy the heights
overlooking Bizerte and Tanis
with a last-stand defense line run
ming from Cape Serrat go miles
west of Bizerte) TO Enfidaville 80
miles south of Tunis.)
Three Allied armies. closing in
for the kin. are driving vigorously
from west and south in three val
leyy TO seal the enemy tighter in
his contracting stronghold where
ultimately he must surrender or
be smashed.
How long the so-called BiZerte-
Tlnis triangle can be held by the
Aids ID problematical. With only
Bixerte and Tunis available to
Axis shipping, and with limited
number Of vulnerable airfields. il
n doubtful whether the Axis
forces can hold out for long.
ROMMEL AND Won ARNIM
have an unpleasant decision to
mske-whether to abandon this
last Axis stronghold in North
Africa by evacuation, or to follow
the example of the German 9Th
Army At Stalingrad by standing
their ground to the bitter end and
sacrificing thousan OF men
through delaying action.
Tie decision must be made
promptly, or else the matter will
Be taken out of Axis hands. In
any case, the German high COM
msnd undoubtedly already has
written Tunisis of the books as
IN effective Axis base.
Allied forces are now getting
ready for the final assault.
Though Rommel. with his back
30 the sea, Is In the toughest spot
q his whole North African ad-
venture, he Is not yet beaten. He
must have lost heavily in his re-
treat from the Mareth Line.
Nevertheless, he still retains
powerful. well-integrated fighting
force estimated to be 100000
strong with hundreds of tanks and
probably 100 planes.
Moreover, due to the difficult
terrain and the strong defensive
positions he occupies. 1t is reason
able to believe that the Afrika
korps commander will elect to
fight II out in Tunisia, and sacri-
nee his entire force. If necessary
except q few seasoned officers.
tschnicians and specialists, whom
he win evacuate TO Sicily or Italy.
SHOULD ROMMEL desire to
evacuate all his forces, the chance
Of even partial success would be
slight. The use of the ports Of
Bixerte and Tunis and his few air.
fields will steadily diminish. Had
Hitler intended to rescue the bulk
Of Axis forces in Tunisia, the ar
rangements would have been made
long ago.
It appears, therefore, that the
time for q real Dunkerque is over.
Even Italian naval vessels could
lend very little assistance.
The Allied timetable TO clear
the Aids forces from North Africa
is said to be June lin order TO
make an invasion of Europe pos
sible this year.
However, due to the speed of
the British 9Th Army in chasing
the remnants OF Rognmel's Afrika
Korps to the Tunisian tip. the
deadline probably can be advanced
to about May Is.