CANADIAN LOSSES AT DIEPPE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23748, 21 September 1942, Page 5

CANADIAN LOSSES AT DIEPPE

Two-Thirds In Casualties LANDING FORCE * OF 5000 (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) OTTAWA, Sept. 18. The Canadian Minister of Defence (Colonel J. L. Ralston), in a lengthy review of the Dieppe raid, said that the Canadian troops had paid a very heavy price. Two-thirds of the forces employed had been lost—dead, wounded, or missing—but they obtained information and experience vital to the general offensive programme.

“While it is now possible to give fuller details, obviously many facts cannot be revealed without affording the enemy valuable information.” said Colonel Ralston. “The Dieppe operation must be regarded in the light of the principal objective of acquiring the fullest possible information on the enemy’s strength and dispositions, which was only procurable by fighting. “All the troops chosen were highly and specially trained. The naval force participating included nothing larger than destroyers, and it was composed primarily of various t”oes of landing and support craft. The air force consisted of units from all operational commands of the Royal Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the United States Air Force the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and Polish. Czech. Norwegian, Belgian, and Fighting French squadrons. Careful Preparations

“The most careful precautions for secrecy were taken, and special means were used to conceal the troop movements. Thanks to this, the enemy had no information that the Dieppe operation was projected. The successful Channel crossing by naval forces preceded by minesweepers was a remarkable achievement, which was accomplished almost wholly without the enemy’s knowledge. “Complete surprise was marred by one mishap. Our craft encountered six enemy armed vessels escorting a tanker. This unfortunate incident warned the Germans of the approach of our forces and prevented the No. 3 commando force landing in the Berneval area, and the Royal Canadian Regiment arrived late, in broad daylight, missing the twilight hour. In consequence it came under a very intense fire.” Colonel Ralston disclosed that 5000 Canadians were engaged at Dieppe. “Although no public analysis of the lessons learned is possible at present.” he said, “it can be stated that a large naval force crossed the Channel and approached the French coast protected by powerful air support, and remained off the coast for many '-ours, with the loss of onlv one destroyer and a number of small landing craft. This was a magnificent achievement. "Although Dieppe was very strongly fortified, a military force landed on the enemy-occupied beaches, and heavy tanks in large numbers were transported across the Channel and successfully landed. Combined Command

“The organisation of the Combined Command functioned most admirably. The enemy was compelled to concentrate air squadrons from distant points and commit a large force to action, thus giving the Royal Air Force a valuable opportunity, and in the intense air fighting at Dieppe the German air force suffered losses of aircraft amounting to a very serious strategic reverse. Enemy batteries and a radio location station were also destroyed, heavy casualties were Inflicted, prisoners were captured, one and possibly two enemy ships were sunk and finally the Canadian troops gained combat experience and confidence in themselves and their leaders.” Details of the Dieppe raid, additional to those given in Ottawa by Colonel Ralston, are contained in a report on the operation released in London. The states: “It is believed that the enemy, in spite of the size of the force involved and the necessary magnitude of the preparations, had no information that a specific operation against Dieppe was planned. However, in consequence of our avowed aggressive policy, he. has been strengthening his positions on the French coast, and during the raid it became clear that he had recently brought additional troops and guns into the Dieppe area. The disablement of the enemy coastal batteries at Varengeville, five miles west of Dieppe, and Berneval, six miles east of Diepno. was considered vital to successful landing operations -nearer the town. “The Berneval landing was effected in the manner described by Colonel Ralston, but at Varengeville an enemy batter” Was destroyed, prisoners were captured, and ammunition dumps were destroyed. A small group of United States Rangers accompanied this special service brigade. “The Navy most gal’antly went into the beaches again and again to take off troops. The military force ashore performed many acts of gallantry in carrying wounded men to the landing craft. During-this phase the destroyers closed the beaches almost to the point of grounding in order to suppOTt the re-embarkation by fire and pick up survivors.' No words could be too warm'to describe the splendid assistance of the Navy. “Throughout the operation the conduct of all ranks of the Canadian military forces engaged, and their determination to capture their objectives at whatever cost, were beyond all praise. The New York "Herald-Tribune, m commenting on the lessons of Dieppe in the light of the detailed Canadian renort, says the losses were, undoubtedly high, indicating the grim nature of the German defences along the occupied coast, as well as the gallantry of the Canadian troops, who constituted the great bulk of the attackers. “But it is not necessarily too high a price to pay for the lessons of the Dienpe operation. Neither is it a yardstick by which to measure the cost of opening a second front, the newsR. P. Hartle, commander of the American forces in Northern Ireland, asked: Is it worth while to martyr the men of two army corns in order to shorten the war by pos. siblv two years? If the issue were as stark and as simple as that, could a nation hesitate over its answer?