The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-19
BRITISH ARMY
 WEARS TRIPOLI
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(Continued rom Page l) mand ranged up into Tunisia, at- tacking enemy vehicles between Sfax and Gabes. Fighter bombers attcked Italian Lampedusa Island off the Tunisian coast and targets in Sicily.
 So far, the eighth army had en- countered no more opposition than mines and rear guard action. Rom mel probably was regrouping his main forces along the French-built Maretz Line, on the TuniSian bor- der.
 The Axis still was not telling its people the truth about the situation in Africa. The Germans radio Vichy said the main line was south of Misurata, and Radio Paris re- sorted to a favorite German device when Axis armies are in difficulties it broadcast an account of another secret weapon.
 This time, Radio Paris said, the weapon was a new land mine, which the British couldn't detect with their present apparatus and which was so heavy they could lift 1t only with the greatest dif1culty.
 Rommel, dispatches from Bone Algeria, received in Madrid, said, die not intend to remain long at Mede' nine, where he arrived Sunday. Ht was expected to fly shortly to ar emergency airtield prepared for hin at Tunis, and take over the com- mand of Tunisia from Col. Gen Hans Arnim.
 Lieut.. Gen. Bernard L. Montgom- cry, commanding the Eighth Army had plainly outmaneuvered Rom- mel, the dispatches said, and Rom- mel had no choice except retreat.
 The Eighth Army, with powerful American and Royal Air Force aerial support, was advancing in three col umns. One was sweeping along the coastal road. One was in the desert 75 miles below the coastal road, and reported near contact with Brig Gen. Jacques LeClerc's Fighting French forces, which had advanced from the Chad region in the African interior. A middle column was the nearest Tripoli.
 Rommel was heavily outweighec everywhere. He could not attempt stand at any point, because tha point would be cut off and the forc' wiped out. Military experts said i was almost impossible for him tt make stand short of the Tunisial border.
 Even in fast retreat, he was sui fering fearful losses. Allied air ac tivity was the heaviest since Mont gomery routed the Afrika Korps a Fl Alamein, in Egypt, almost 9O miles to the east.
 Hour after hour, American an' British heavy bombers, medium bombers, fighter -bombers and fight CTS streaked out from Malta, Algier and Montgomery's desert air field to heap fresh death and destruction on the retreating Axis forces.
 Fires fed by Axis equipment blaze high from east of Tripol! to Gabes in Tunisia. Tripoli itself was de scribed as an inferno, into whicl Allied bombers were constantly un loading fresh loads of high explo sixes and incendiar:es.
 To make it worse for the Axis, it forces were now retreating througl range of hills that run in a semi circle some 40 miles east of Tripoii Axis columns were compelled t keep to the few roads, offerin massed, easy targets to Allied planes Axis air resistance was small.
 Apparently, the Allies were fight ing according to a carefully pre- pared timetable. While Montgom ery's desert column was near con tact with LeClerc's forces, LeCler had established liaison with French column in southwestern Trt politania. These two French column and the Eighth Army seemed il position to met in a pincers move ment near the Tunisian border.