THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY MAY 13, 1943:
Triumphant allied armies completed conquest of the
Tunisian base for invasion of southern Europe today with the seizure of 13
axis generals, more than 150,000 prisoners and vast booty that included
more than 1,000 guns and 250 tanks.
President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
today continued their White House conferences, believed to center on
plans for a major fall offensive to drive the Japanese out of Burma
and open the way to China, and then to Japan.
New allied blows against Japan in the southwest Pacific
and the India-Burma theater were sharply foreshadowed in a
series of developments today.
Times News
TRIUMPH AFRICA CLINCHED
13 Generals With
150,000 Prisoners
Captured by Allies
By VIRGIL PINKLEY
A L L I E D HEADQUARTERS,
North Africa,
May 13 (UP)—Triumphant allied armies completed conquest of the
Tunisian base for invasion of southern Europe today with the seizure of 13
axis generals, more than 150,000 prisoners and vast booty that included
more than 1,000 guns and 250 tanks.
A few stragglers were still to be rounded up or crushed but both German
Col. Gen. Jurgen von Arnim, commander-in-chief of axis ground forces, and
the Italian Gen. Giovanni Messe, the fascist commander, were in the net
along with their staffs.
-
By MERRIMAN SMITH
WASHINGTON, May 13 (U.P.) —
President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
today continued their White House conferences, believed to center on
plans for a major fall offensive to drive the Japanese out of Burma
and open the way to China, and then to Japan.
Plans were disclosed for two speeches by Churchill while he Is
in Washington. Next Wednesday, the White House revealed, he will
address a joint session of congress. Tomorrow afternoon—on the occasion
of the anniversary of the British home guards—he will broadcast
to his homeland a speech designed almost entirely for British consumption.
Continuous Conference
MacArthur, Halsey Meet to
Coordinate Pacific Operations
AN ADVANCED BASE, SOUTH PACIFIC, May 13 (U.P)—Disclosure
that Adm. William P. Halsey and Gen. Douglas MacArthur have met
to coordinate future operations in their areas today gave rise to speculation
that an offensive against Japan is imminent.
The conference—first between the leaders—was revealed by south
Pacific headquarters, which refused dbmment on a future offensive
but admitted the meeting implied a new phase of the war in the south
and southwest Pacific.
(The disclosure came as President Roosevelt and Prime Minister
Winston Churchill were reported exploring the possibilities of an allied
fall drive against the Japanese in Burma. This was reported to be their
major concern in their Washington conference.)
MacArthur, it was indicated, would be the supreme commander of
both offensive and defensive operations in both the southwest Pacific
area under his command and Halsy's south Pacific territory.
Newspaper correspondents were informed that they could speculate
as much as they desired on possible offensive plans.
New Allied Blows Against
Japs Foreshadowed in Asia
The Associated Press
New allied blows against Japan in the southwest Pacific
and the India-Burma theater were sharply foreshadowed in a
series of developments today.
The highlights:
- At an advanced U. S. base in the south Pacific it was officially
disclosed that Admiral William F. Halsey, jr., the navy's fighting commander
in the south seas, had Conferred with Gen. Douglas .MacArthur
in Australia and mapped plans for "utilizing the total means at
their disposal."
2. In Washington, i n f o r m e d sources declared the strategic possibilities
of India as a base for major operations against Japan was
apparently one of the main topics under discussion by President
Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill.
Commanders on Scene
Also on the capital scene, In close touch with the allied leaders, were
Field Marshal Sir Archibald P. Wavell, Admiral Sir James Somerville
and Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Peirse.
Observers pointed out that these three direct the only land, sea and
air forces in position to open a route for heavy movement of supplies
to embattled China — via the long-closed Burma road.
Sea Route Smashed
3. With the reopening of the Mediterranean, as a result of the allied
conquest of north Africa, shipping routes to India and thence to China
will be shortened by approximately 5,000 miles, thus facilitating the delivery
of greatly increased supplies to the armies of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.
One of the immediate effects may well be the strengthening of Marshal
Wavell's million-man Indian army, potentially a tremendous
striking force, which has been handicapped by lack of modern equipment
and supplies.
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