Page:Charles Robert Anderson - Algeria-French Morocco - CMH Pub 72-11.pdf/18



against sporadic fire and strafing aircraft. But soon the unloading problems of the previous day began to retard operations. By 1700 on D-day 39 percent of the troops had landed, but only 16 percent of vehicles and 1.1 percent of supplies were ashore. Moreover, when Anderson started south he had no land-based air support, and most of his tanks were still on the transports. Short of trucks to cover the growing distance between troops and supplies, Anderson halted his assault battalions in the afternoon six miles short of the Casablanca defensive perimeter. The disappointment of the troops at the order was compounded by a sense of tragedy when a small plane they shot down turned out to be not a French attacker, but a friendly artillery spotter.

Viewing the beaches that same morning, General Patton pro-