ASSIGNMENT TO NOWHERE

Good surface story of the first weeks of the Tunisian campaign, by the International News Correspondent. The coverage is limited to what Bennett saw, with little political interpretation, but it is readable reporting of men in action. Leaving London with other correspondents, destination unknown, Bennett was part of the landing at Oran, saw the parachutists in action, the Commandos, and the various troops -- French, English, American -- set for action. He was behind the Grant tanks as the Allies made their shoestring offensive against Tunis and Bizerte, to fall because of German numerical superiority, and, with typewriter, was exposed to constant German strafing and shelling. He was ordered home, via Algiers, after the Allied retreat. The main essentials are expanded by conversations with soldiers of all branches, interviews with higher-ups, with German prisoners, etc. A book that may cash in --or just miss out -- with today's news. A synthesis of earlier newspaper accounts -- good of its kind.