Bloodiest Stage

The Allies faced a new and probably the bloodiest stage of all in North Africa.

Advance British patrols crossed the Tunisian border last week. Behind them the main force of the victorious British Eighth Army swept boisterously through Tripoli, pounded on over arid, rocky desert land on the heels of Rommel's retreating troops. But General Sir Bernard Law Montgomery was ahead of his supplies, and he may have to pause until Tripoli is put in shape to serve him as a base.

As Rommel fled, Allied forces in central Tunisia jabbed at the Axis flanks, trying to slash through to the coast and intercept him. Along the edge of the Axis corridor, the fighting showed signs of developing into a major conflict. But at week's end determined German resistance still kept the corridor open for Rommel's escape. His junction with General Jurgin von Arnim, uniting some 130.000 Axis troops in a strong position, seemed certain.

Washington strategists thought a month ago that the African situation might be cleared up in February. Now they hardly hope for victory before summer. Transatlantic supply is slow and difficult. Rains still wash the northern quagmire. Not until late spring or early summer will Tunisia really dry out.

Land, Air, Sea. At Allied headquarters in North Africa, an imposing assemblage of military chiefs conferred.* Their presence underscored the problems which will have to be solved: problems of supply, manifold and coordinated operations on land, in the air, on the sea. For the moment, the air offered their major opportunity. Allied planes had the edge over the Luftwaffe. Axis positions, concentrated as they are, are an airman's oyster. Axis ports are few: Bizerte, Tunis, Sousse, Sfax and Gabes--none of them large, all within 200 miles of each other, all within easy bombing range of Allied airdromes. Perhaps aircraft can lay the oyster open for earthbound troops before Tunisia dries out.

* General George C. Marshall, Admiral Ernest King, Field Marshal Sir John G. Dill, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound, Lieut. General Dwight Eisenhower, General Sir Harold Alexander, Admiral Sir Andrew B. Cunningham, Lieut. Generals Henry H. Arnold and Brehon B. Somervell, Vice Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Lieut. General Sir Hastings Ismay, Air Vice Marshal Inglis and Lend-Lease Administrator W. Averell Harriman.

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