Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-05-11
Present Disposition
Of 9Th Army May Be
Clue 10 Next Blow
Axis Would Like to Know
Where Montgomery and
His Forces Are Now
BY the Associated Press,

oy IlG <ASSOCldtSu fISSS.
LONDON, May 1.-THE present
disposition of Gen. Sir Bernard
Montgomery's 9th Army, used as
decoy in 1t. Gen. Kenneth Ander-
sons master strategy for the capture
of Tunis, may answer the riddle of
where the United Nations will strike
next.
Its position was last reported in
the Ainhallouf area north of En-
f1daville, facing powerful German
and Italian units near the base OF
the Cap Bon thumb" thrusting into
the Mediterranean. But in the well
ter of frantic rumor and conjecture
facing the Axis as it tries feverishly
to prepare for the next blow, this
must be one of their major worries:
How much of the 9Th Army remains
there?
1t is known that some of the best
units of the 9th Army-notably the
7th Armored Division and the 4th
Indian Division-were pulled out OF
the Ainhallouf area and sent to join
the LIST Army for the Tunis attack.
The main Axis worry is this: Is the
remainder of the 9th still in the
Ainhallouf sector, or have other
units been withdrawn to the rear
for regrouping and preparation for
another stroke elseWhere-either in
the final phase of the Cap Bon
campaign or the initial phase OF the
new battle Of Europe?
Communiques Vague.
Wherever the bulk of the 9th
Army is, front-line dispatches to
London have made it clear that the
headlong flight of Axis forces into
the Cap Bon Peninsula was as much
due to the 9th as if it were in at the
kill at B1erte and Tunis, because
strong Axis forces held by the Ger
man command to face the 9th at
Ainhallouf have made more difficult
the storning of the two vital cities.
In recent days Allied commune
ques have been vague about the 9th
Army, merely using brief sentences
to the effect that active patrolling
has continued on its front, with
limited detectives and some pris-
oners taken. A small advance was
reported yesterday. There has been
nothing in these communicates to in
dictate the size of the British forces
involved.
Briefly, here is how an intriguing
doubleplay between Gen. Montgom-
cry and Gen. Anderson fooled the
Axis:
One night just before dark the
9th was all set for an attempt to
smash through the strong forces
facing it and take Tunis for Gen.
Montgomery.
Called Off Before Zero Hour
A few hours before zero time, Gen
Montgomery called his corps and
divisional commanders together, told
them the attack had been called
off, and detailed a few units which
were to join the list Army Is miles
away.
These units were pulled out Of the
line and within an hour Of joining
the LIST Army just about dawn,
pushed to the front Of the advanc-
ing forces and stormed toward
Tunis.
The Axis, left with most Of his
armor and the major part Of his
guns and troops facing the 9th
Army, was caught of base.
There wasn't even time to pull up
the dormant force to meet the new
threat because Tunis and Bizerte
fell too quickly. So this strong and
well-equipped Axis force remains
where it was in imminent danger of
being trapped and cut of, losing
slightly against line-straightening
attacks from what is left of the 9th
Army and wondering where the rest
of it is.
Montgomery's Whereabouts Mystery.
The Axis may also be wondering