TANK BATTLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 180, 12 May 1943, Page 3

TANK BATTLE

PROBABLY LAST IN AFRICA.

BEWILDERED GERMANS YIELD.

TRANSPORT NOT DAMAGED

(N.Z. Preys Association—Copyright.) (Roc. 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 11.

With the curtain falling with dramatic suddenness on the campaign in Tunisia, the spokesman at Allied Headquarters at Algiers to-night said that the prisoners now total over 100,000, and more remain to he counted. Twenty thousand were taken at the entrance to Cape Bon peninsula.

The Germans seem to have been surprised by the rapidity of the British advance, for the roads are intact and littered with transport and war material, which is undamaged. However, the British are now advancing along the two coastal loads of the peninsula, which are filled with equipment set on fire by the enemy. The spokesman added that what probably was the last tank battle in the campaign was in progress in the Grombalia area, between remnants of the 10th Panzer Division and British armoured elements.

Correspondents at Allied Headquarters say that the picture from the front to-day is of bewildered Germans surrendering in droves. With the core of battle-stained troops standing firm as the front crumbles, the end is approaching. It is pointed out that the enemy reports that the defenders would fight to the last Tuan aie false. The men are surrendering despite 1 messages from Hitler and Mussolini, which tv ere icvealed after prisoners had been taken. The Rome correspondent of' the Stockholm newspaper “Ticlmngen” reports that General Messe, the Italian commander of the Axis foices at Capo Bon. was ordered to fight to the last man.

Heuter’s correspondent states that whole* German companies on the northern front gave themselves up. fullyequipped with food and ammunition. Infantry from the best regiments were seen streaming along the roacls, some making the ,“V” -sign with their

fingeis. A most amazing scene occurred on the Mateur mad when six cheering Germans drove to meet .their captors in an Arab cart drawn by bedecked

horses. A message from Bizerta says that 40 haggard men were the only survivors of lire loth. Armoured Division, which is the Afrika Jvorps’ crack Panzer formation, and for two years the particular opponent, of the British 7th Armoured Division.