Evening star., 1943-04-13
Africa
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Sicily and shipping at Marsala on
the Sicilian west coast.
American Mitchells and Bostons
commanded by Col. Frederick R.
Terrell of Los Angeles won praise
from Air Vice Marshal Sir Arthur
Cunningham, commander of Allied
Air Forces in Tunisia, for their
persistent and successful attacks
on La Fsslconnerie airfield where
he said upward of Is destroyed
enemy aircraft had been found.
Praises Assistance.
"The combined air and army op-
erations which led to the break
through at Gabes were materially
assisted by your action" Marshal
Cunningham said.
(The German communique
said Rommel's rearguards were
impeding the Allied advance
with good effect" in the area
north of Kairouan and Sousse)
(The German-controlled Vichy
radio said Rommel had been re-
inforced by aid in the last few
days with both men and weapons.
(The Italian communique,
broadcast by the Rome radio,
acknowledged that so dead and
124 injured we're left in Allied
raids on Italy and Italian
islands.)
There are no indications yet
whether Rommel and Col. Gen
Jurgen Won Arnim and their Italian
satellites will attempt an Axis Dun
kerque rather than go down fighting
as did the German 9Th Army at
Stalingrad. But the Allies assert
they are ready for either eventuality
Almost as much as the German
army that perished at Stalingrad
are the Germans in North Africa
dependent on air transport for emer-
sency supplies-even for fuel to run
their tanks. But flying across the
Sicilian narrows has become a sui
eide Job, with 88 of their big trans
ports destroyed in the last fortnight
the majority during the last week
end by American flyers.
The road to final victory in Africa
may be any one of five which lead
into the enemy's bridgehead.
Thin Out Into Plains.
The mountain siege line has
passes, and in two sectors particu-
larly-Medjez-El-Bab and Pont Du
Fahs-the mountains quickly thin
out into plains sweeping to the very
doorstep of Tunis.
On the eastern coast, the high
way which the British 9th Army fol-
lowed from Egypt runs along the
rim of the Gulf of Hammamet,
about 20 miles north of Enfidaville
then cuts through the high ridges
some 40 miles until it reaches Tunis.
That is the longest of all victory
roads in physical distance, but the
9Th Army which has packed the
biggest Allied punch, has this road
for its own thus far.
The road from Pont Du Fahs to
Tunis is about 40 miles. 1t is nearly
the same distance on two roads
from Medjez-El-Bab. Near the
northern coast there is the Mateur
road. along which some of the
flercest engagements of the Tunisan
campaign have been fought.
Excellent Mountain Troops.
For mountain battles the Allies
have some of the best mountain
troops in the world-Gurkhas from
India, Counters from Morocco and
numerous specially trained units OF
British and Americans. The Allies
also have preponderance of guns
and tanks, and nearly continuous
air superiority over the entire front
If Rommel finds any consolation
from his defeats, it may be from
the thought the Allies still will be
occupied in Africa some weeks OF
longer, thus delaying operations
against Europe.
His stand in Southern and Central
Tunisia. at the Mareth Line anc
along the Wadi Ell Akarit, cost him
10000 prisoners in the 9th Army's
bag and 5000 or more captured by
American and French troops.
Rommel, imperiled by Alice
thrusts deep behind his front, man.
aged each time to withdraw the bulk
of his forces, the latest at Fondouk
where delays encountered by Amer.
ican forces held up an advance thai
might have trapped some of the
Axis forces streaming northwaro
from Gabes Gap.
100000 Prisoners in All.
The 9th Army now has taker
more than 100000 prisoners since
Ell Alamein, so per cent of then
Italians, and a trail of Axis grave!
marks Rommels retreat route from
Egypt over the sands to the flower.
dotted slopes of Tunisia.
The capture of Kairouan, Moslen
holy city 80 miles south of Tunis
marked another union of British
forces advancing north and Amer.
ican forces advancing east.
In an order of the day. 1t. Gen
George S. Patton, jr.. told al
brancess of his I'd Corps which wor
through Ell Guetar, Each of yo,
in his own sphere has done his dut,
magnif1cently. Due to you
united efforts and manifest assist
ance of Almighty God, the splendit
record of the American Army ha.