Evening star., 1943-05-13
Stimson Says Feeding
OF Tunisian Captives
Is Major Problem
Declares Allied Losses
Are Not High in View
Of lmportont Coins

Losses were heavy on both
sides in the Tunisian battle, but
the price paid by the Allies was
not high in the light of the
achievements gained, Secretary
of War Stimson said today in
disclosing that the feeding of
nearly 175,000 Axis prisoners
captured in the final drive con
stituted IAN embarrassment to
our command"
Mr.. Stimson reported at his press
conference that no plans have been
made for the disposition of the
prisoners. He edded that our supply
lines have been strained and the
feeding nov of nearly ITS 900 more
men will place a heavy burden on
the Army.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Allied
commander in chief. has not COM
pleted the list of our casualties in
the campaign, the Secretary told re-
porters, and therefore he could not
give any figures on the number killed
or wounded.
Gives Credit to Eisenhower.
Attributing the smashing Tunisian
victory to the brilliant planning of
Gen. Eisenhower and the superb
execution Of the plans in a perfect
coordination of land, sea and air
forces, Mr.. Stimson predicted that
similar results can be secured else
where"
The Secretary cautioned that,
while the Allies have won a cam
paign, we have not won a war He
added. however, that the moral ef-
feet OF the Axis collapse in North
Africa would be felt throughout the
Axis countries and the nations they
have occupied
Ranking the Tunisian debacle
with the battle of Stalingrad, he
said it was the second great military
disaster suffered by the Axis in the
space of few months.
The Germans seemed overwhelmed
by the speed and power of the Al
lied advance, Mr. Stimson said and
although the enemy soldiers fought
bravely, in defeat they certainly
were not supermen."
Sees Great Effect Now.
The Secretary suggested that the
victory at this time would have a
far greater effect on the course of
the war than if the Allies had won
their November race for Tunisia.
Shortly after the landing in North
Africa November 8, small units pen
etrated into Tunisia-occupying Ma
teur, Tebourba and Djeida among
other places supply lines were
inadequate and they were thrown
back toward the Algerian border
An Allied victory at that time,
Mr.. Stimson said. would have been
attributed by the enemy ito mere
luck, surprise. accident" while the
victory now is clear proof that the
Allied armies, man to man and
army to army, can defeat the Ger
man war machine.
LAS it is now" he added, I'VE have
beaten them to their knees, and the
effect of that lesson will go far and
wide through the German Reich"
U. S. Unit Took Key Hill.
Mr.. Stimson also disclosed that it
was the 34th Division, comprised OF
men from Iowa, Kansas, North and
South Dakota, who took Hill 600, a
key position that enabled the Amer
ican forces to break through the
Axis lines and hasten the final
stages of the fighting.
The lst Armored Division, to
which $4,000 prisoners surrendered
also was largely responsible for the
final smashing Of enemy forces, Mr.
Stimson said, after taking Mateur
and threatening an encirclement.
At the same time Mr.. Stimson
identified for the first time the
commanders of two of the four
American divisions forming the I'd
Army Corps, whose hard fighting
fastened the defeat.
They are Maj. Gen. Manton S
Eddy of Chicago, commanding the
9th Infantry Division, and Maj
Gen. Charles w. Ryder, Topeka
Kans.. who led the 34th National
Guard Division. Earlier in the cam
paign the War Department had re.
vealed that Maj. Gen. Ernest H
Harmon. Lowell, Mass, was in COM
(See ST1MSON, Page A-2.)