| Show Behind the a War News Newsy I By y Major Paul C C. C Noted Military Writer NEW YORK INS The INS The shift In pos position of General Pattons Patton's American troops to the north northend northend northend end of the Tunisian fighting line is most significant If they remain in their present position it appears pears they will be the spearhead spearhead spear spear- head that will drive between and separate the axis troops which are in and Tunis It should be noted that since General Montgomery's latest assault assault assault as as- sault in the south at ville all of the allied gains have been short and at the price of heavy fighting involving many enemy counterattacks counterattackS' As has been stated before the present squeeze attack by the united nations is the commencement of the final phase of the battle of Tunisia But it must be remembered remembered remembered re re- re- re that unless there is a complete collapse of the axis troops the fighting will be more desperate an and more costly in both men and materiel than any which has heretofore occurred in north Africa All of the present combat is in reality probably attacks against the axis line of outposts It is doubtful if the main German German German Ger Ger- man and Italian defenses have as yet been reached by any of the allied troops When they arc are the battle will become much more severe B Before fore the soldiers of Rommel surrender or are exterminated exterminated exterminated ex ex- terminated the entire operation may take on much of the nature of a siege The last axis battle line may probably be from south to Tunis and then east to and including Cap Bon After this stage of the combat it may break into the siege of and Tunis It should be remembered remembered remembered re re- re- re that the former city is in reality a great fortress The latter however is not so strongly strong strong- ly fortified There have been rumors that Hitler has stopped sending reinforcements reinforcements rein rein- and supplies to his legions in Tunisia This information information information tion would be wonderful if true but it is is- not wise to believe it until it becomes a a proven fact The people of the united nations nations nations na na- na- na should not give way to wishful thinking in regard to the present fighting in Tunisia The way the cards are now dealt the combat will be most desperately desperately desperately desper desper- severe If the campaign ends sooner than expected or with greater ease of accomplishment accomplish accomplish- ment then and then onty is the time for celebration It was recently written from north Africa that it should never be forgotten that Hitler could at any time tremendously reinforce reinforce rein rein- force the axis air units engaged in that battle This is very true The fuehrer could move many fighters and bombers from the Russian front or from Europe itself to bases in Italy Corsica Sardinia Sicily and Greece The e continuous allied air as as- sault against axis occupied roI 1 ern Europe has as one fa I 1 11 I major objectives not only pinning down and holdin Marshal Goering's air f there but of forcing the theM rf general staff to send air I put out to o that area m gr said that at least half oti axis air force is now stat c for defensive purposes in inT P j ern Europe It is also tf noted that the red arm force is commencing to joi jo jot ethis f e this bombardment of Hit fortress European If the fuehrer sends air from Europe to toj nisia the allied air for ford re the British isles would i t d drive to devastate wever w ever portion of Europe Is exposed In the same m man n if axis air units are the Russian line of the Crl Stalin's airmen will take advantage of the weakness I 1 is thus created on their fry fr t c cAs tAs As has been written before German air ar for force e is over tt tended and ad it would seem ti U the the grand strategy of the unit t nations will get our enemies s f matter malter which way v.-ay they turn turnS |
