Show a i Behind the War News By Major Paul C C. C Noted Military Analyst l NEW YORK INS INS INS-In In central central central cen cen- western Tunisia axis forces pushed back American units for fora a distance of 18 or 20 miles The people of the United States naturally feel their soldiers can win any battle anywhere against any enemy Therefore this withdrawal has caused consIderable considerable considerable con con- speculation as to its causes The laymen of the United States and of the democracies should realize that such a withdrawal withdrawal withdrawal with with- Is purely an incident of the daily battle which has no range long-range decisive results There are numberless reasons which In the fortunes of war or orthe orthe orthe the course of the days day's battle may make necessary such a rearward movement The enemy enemy en en- emy may have suddenly massed great and unexpected strength at their point of assault In this event event- the defending units by y sheer weight of enemy attack attach must move backward to avoid having their line pierced The American line was not broken boken It was merely temporarily bent It must also be remembered that the men of the American units In north Africa have had the least experience In war of any of their allies The British Eighth army Is totally composed of veterans Many men in the British First army went through the retreat from France at Dunkerque Our forces of necessity necessity needs sity city must be toughened up as these are Perhaps as yet the toughening process has not reached completion It is Impossible for anyone not nota a member of the staff of the north African fighting units to sav say or even guess the cause of this withdrawal But It is sufficient sufficient sufficient suf suf- for the layman observer to realize that such a backward movement is entirely Immaterial immaterial immaterial rial as lon long as it does not result In an uncontrolled enemy break break- through To understand fighting conditions conditions conditions condi condi- in Tunisia it is well to have a picture of the terrier now controlled by the axi aiji troops All northern Tunisia 11 mountainous with altitudes run running ning from 2000 to feet Ir II I the south Is the great Chott D rid rid rid-a a huge salt marsh some times dry sometimes wet on thi th surface In between is a vas plain the northern part of whir contains a great olive grow Industry of which is center The northern three thre quarters of Tunisia on the east ea- eastern east em ern n side now occupied by th tb axis therefore i is roughly ra rectangle with the natural d de on the west of hi mountains and the salt deserts the south on j jIt It Is said that north of tbt j salt areas In the mountains mountain there are only three real passes pass that may be followed for inv inva slon sion from the west to the east ease It is probable that since th the fall fali and T Italians of France the lle Germ Germans J Jand have been ing this area for defense arid and have f now placed there ma mail y strong veteran fighting axi aai uni units ts I Therefore Anglo Ango Anglo American American armies attacking from rom the wi wet west t must force through the moue 1 tain thin passes And General Montgomery's Mont gomery's Eighth army from tb tie the south in attacking northward must push through the Mareth line first and then the narrow W corridor at the Gulf of between the salt marshes and d the sea sea perhaps perhaps only 25 mina milel in width I This means there will be mu much desperate fighting There may be many reverses There will alil ill be terrific casualties on both sides I a aIn In no area have the axis n nations na occupied positions in all of the natural defenses w were ie ieso so much In their favor Th The united nations will win the battie battie battle bat bat- tie tle of Tunisia but be prepared d for long desperate fighting which will be as severe as any that has occurred to date in this war I |