Evening star., 1943-02-19
RommeI Seen Guinino
Freedom of Action
Maj. Eliot Exploins How
Winning Of Roll Loop
ProIonqs Bottle Of Tunisio
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.

By Maj. George FIELDING Eliot.
Field Marshal Rommel has gained
important strategical advantages from
his successful offensive operations in
Tunisia.
First, he has inflicted severe losses In
men and equipment on the American
armored forces,
Second, he is now only about 40 miles
from our advance base at Tebessa, lust
inside the Algerian frontier Tebessa is
the junction OF several railway lines and
improved highways. II Rommel could
reach Tebessa he would undoubtedly be
able to capture considerable quantities
of stores, motor transport and rolling
stock.
1t Is not likely that he would be able
to retain possession of the town, because
his own communications would be seri-
ously extended by the time he got there.
But the damage he could do would GER
tainly delay the development of any
Allied counterdrive. However, there is
as yet no indication that Rommel intends
to try to go this far. He may be content
with what he has already accomplished,
at least for the moment.
The third point to be noted is that
his latest advances put him in possession
Of the important loop of railway which
leaves the main Tunisian coastal line at
SouSse, runs southWestward through
Kairouan and the newly captured towns
OF Sheitla, KaSserine and Feriana to
Metlaoui on the northwestern edge of
the great salt marshes, and then swings
back eastward, skirting the marshes,
through Gafsa and Maknassy to reioin
the coastal line at Graiba, between Sfax
and Gabes.
1t Is easy to see the advantage which
the full possession OF this loop gives to
the Germans. They can now occupy a
large area Of Central Tunisia and can
shift their troops and supplies from
point to point around the edge of it, re-
inforcing any threatened position with
comparative ease. They hold the direct
rail line from Tunis through Sousse and
Sfax to Gabes, while the loop line enables
them to reinforce their outlying posi-
may be more convenient. The territory
inclosed by the loop forms a solid block
separating the British 9Th Army from
the Americans at Tebessa and the
French and British farther north.
1t should, Of course, be kept in mind
that the security of this whole position
depends on Rommel's ability to keep the
British Army from breaking through the
defended gap between the salt marshes
and sea. From this point of view, Rom
mel's forces strung out between Feriana
and Kairouan may seem dangerously far
advanced, for II Gen. Montgomery breaks
through at Gabes, Rommel will have to
beat hasty retreat to the northeast
ward. This, however, he can now do by
way Of Kairouan and Sousse and there
seems little prospect that the Allies will
be able to bring pressure enough to bear
IN the Kalrouan area to intercept him.
Gen. Montgomery is making progress.
He has stormed into Medenine, the GEN.
trail position of the outpost zone of the
Mareth Line, and his patrols are active
around Foum Tatouhine, the one re-
naming stronghold of the outpost zone
not yet in British hands. He must
already be feeling out the main line OF
resistance between Toujane and Mareth
and If this gives way he will be able to
deliver direct assault on Gabes and
break through into Central Tunisia.
All these operations will take time. II
the Germans make q deSperate defense
the British may not be in Gabes for some
days yet. or even weeks. On the other
hand, the British may overwhelm all
resistance in one mighty and irresistible
onset. There is no way OF forming a
reasonable opinion, with the informa-
ton at hand, as TO how long it will take
Gen. Montgomery to get to Gabes.
Rommel will delay him all he can.
He may dig in along his newly won rail-
road and switch some of his armor back
to the south to help hold the British Off
for awhile. He has indeed a number of
choices now open to him which he did
not have few days ago. The fact is
that Rommel has won for himself very
considerable degree Of freedom OF ma
neuVer and he has unquestionably pro-
longed the length OF time that the Ger
mans will be able to hold out in North
Africa
fCopyrizht, 1913, New York Tribune, IncD