Evening star., 1943-01-24
Allies Mop Up
'Chutists Trying
To Aid RommeI
SHOWDOWN BELIEVED NEAR in
dealing with French in North
Africa. Page Az.
BY holland NORGAARD,

Associated Press War Correspondent.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA, Jan. 13.-Brit-
aims 9th Army, which captured
Tripoli early today, raced on
westward toward Tunisia, where
Allied troops were mopping up
Nazi parachutists trying to
widen the 50-mile bomb alley"
of escape left to Marshal Erwin
Rommels Axis forces fleeing into
TuniSia.
Gen. Bernard L. Montgomery s
desert troops at am. swept into
Tripoli, whose dock depots and in
stallations had been blasted both by
Allied bombers and Nazi demolition
squads. Capture of this city was
the ultimate triumph of a three
month push of 1900 miles.
The British then were reported to
have pushed on westward toward
the Tunisian border, 100 miles west
of Tripoli, while Allied planes
pounded Rommels shattered troops
on the coastal highway and inflicted
great damage" on boatloads of
Axis officials fleeing the port of
zuara, so miles from Tripoli.
. CThe Admiralty in London also
announced that light forces of
the Royal Navy bombarded zu-
ara early Saturday. Good re-
suits were achieved, large fires
and explosions being Observed
the communique said.)
Allied Forces 800 Miles Apart.
Less than 300 miles separates
Gen. Montgomery's troops and the
Allied Tunisian forces in the Gafsa
area of Tunisia, but the Axis appar-
emily is firmly intrenched all along
the Eastern Tunisian coast where
Rommel is withdrawing to join the
Axis troops under Gen. Jurgen von
Arnim.
1t also is believed that Gen. Mont
gomery's main forces would have to
pause for rest and reorganization
after the long, exhausting haul
across Libya.
A French communique tonight
reported that hard fighting had
continued throughout the day on
the central Tunisian front, espe-
cially in the chain of mountains
some 80 miles northwest of Kai-
rouan where advanced French units
were said to have made a slight
withdrawal.
French Moroccan troops annihi-
lated a German detachment about
nine miles from Ousseltia and took
number of prisoners.
The French also reported their
troops had captured Chat, deep in
the western Sahara, along with a
large number of prisoners and con-
siderable war material.
CThe Paris radio reported today
that two United States divisions had
been sent from Morocco to the
Tunisian front, which was com
paratively calm" today)
Nazi Tanks Rolled Back.
Earlier British and French troops
were reported to have rolled back
German tank column at least 4
miles in the Kebir valley after a
counterattack launched from Robaa
toward Pont du Fahs. This sector
is above the OuSseltia -Kairouan
area.
In these two valleys, roughly so
miles west of the Eastern Tunisian
coast, the Axis has made its most
determined bid to smash the Allies
in order to secure the line of Rom
mel's retreat.
Allied aircraft continued to pound
German and Italian columns re-
treating along the coast and at the
same time attacked Tunis' Ell
Aouina airdrome three times YES
terday, finding a great concentra-
ton of Axis transport and fighter
planes on the field.
In their attempt to widen their
hold on the 200-mile-long coastal
belt the Axis dropped parachutists
at several points in the rear of the
Allied forces. But the majority of
tsee AFRICA, Page A-4D