The News of the Week in Review
Twenty News Questions – 13
A New Chapter Opens in the See-Saw Battle for North Africa (map) – 14
Pattern of Victory is Seen in Egypt (Baldwin) – 15-16
Winter Finds the Axis at the Caucasus Barrier (map) – 17
Rommel’s Defeat Linked to Nazis’ Caucasus Push (by Ralph Parker) – 18
New Pacific Clash Awaited (by Charles Hurd) – 19
The South Pacific Battle Zone (map) – 20
Major Sports Yesterday (from page 1) – 20
How Navy Drafts Its Communiques (by Robert F. Whitney) – 21
Answers to Twenty News Questions – 21
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1942/nov42/f08nov42.htm
Allies invade French North Africa
Sunday, November 8, 1942 www.onwar.com
US troops coming ashore as part of Operation Torch [photo at link]
In Algeria and Tunisia... Operation Torch. The Allies land in French North Africa. There are three main task forces: The Western Task Force, commanded by General Patton, is comprised of 35,000 troops. It is supported by naval forces under Admiral Hewitt (two battleships, one fleet carrier, four escort carriers and numerous cruisers and destroyers); the Central Task Force, commanded by General Fredendall is comprised of 39,000 American troops. Commodore Toubridge commands its naval support force (two escort carriers and many smaller ships); the Eastern Task Force, contains 52 warships and 33,000 soldiers, led by General Ryder and Admiral Burroughs. The British contingent, 87th Division is supported by Admiral Syfret commanding British Force H, comprised of three battleships, three fleet carriers and a strong force of cruisers and destroyers. The Western Task force lands at three places along a 200 mile front around Casablanca. The Central is to land in and around Oran and the Eastern Task force lands in Algiers. The Eastern force at Algiers makes good early progress and quickly captures the town. A prize prisoner is found in Admiral Darlan, a prominent leader of the Vichy government, who is there on private business. At Oran, the Central Force is not as quickly successful and two destroyers are lost in an attempt to rush the harbor. By night, however the landings are well established and the airfield at Tafaraiu is in Allied hands. An American manned Spitfire force is ready to begin operations. The Western Task force at Casablanca runs into the greatest opposition. The French battleship Jean Bart, at anchor but armed fights a gun battle with the USS Massechusetts. The French destroyer flotilla in the port fights as well but are driven off or sunk. Landings at Port Lyautey face fierce fighting, those at Safi go well. In total there are 1800 casualties. The landings receive some help from Free French supporters. This is most effective at Algiers where General Mast limits the French reaction so that the landings are not hindered. Both Mast and the Allied leaders are surprised to find Admiral Darlan a prisoner and negotiations for an armistice begin with him immediately. In Casablanca the pro-Allied General Bethouart is less successful in stemming resistance. Support for the invasion is lower as General Nogues is less sympathetic to the Allied cause and Admiral Michelier, head of the naval forces there, is virulently anti-British. The Allies take care to present Operation Torch to the French as an American operation to minimize the anti-British feeling prevalent with many French officials. The British have been responsible for allaying Spanish fears to enlist their support against a possible German move through Gibraltar. Both the American and the British assure Spain her neutrality will be respected.
From Berlin... Upon hearing news of the invasion, all U-boats capable are ordered to North Africa. There are 25 in all. They have some successes in strikes on the escort forces.
On the Eastern Front... In the Caucasus, Soviet forces go on the offensive on the Terek front and threaten to cut off some units of 3rd Panzer Corps.