SURRENDER OF AXIS TROOPS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23945, 12 May 1943, Page 3

SURRENDER OF AXIS TROOPS

25,000 TAKEN BY U.S. FORCES COLLAPSE IN NORTHERN SECTOR (Rec. 8.20 p.ia.) LONDON, May 10, When all organised fighting ended on the 2nd United States Corps front St 11 a.m. on Sunday, General Krause, of the German forces, requested an armistice to negotiate a surrender, says a correspondent at Allied Headquarters. The 2nd United States Corps offered him three terms for surrender—it must be unconditional, the terms must be accepted promptly, and the destruction of German equipment must cease immediately. General Krause accepted the terms, and by 1 p.m. all German resistance had ceased. Of about 25,000 prisoners already counted on this sector, fewer than 400 were Italians. The count continues. The Allied bag of German generals was the biggest ever captured, with the exception of the Russian successes at Stalingrad, states the Algiers correspondent of the British United Press. The Bth Army’s 7th Armoured Division took the remnants of its old opponent, the famous 15th Panzer Division, its commander, Major-General Borowictz, and his staff. The Americans captured Major-General Weber, commander of the 334 th Division, Major-General Bueloudius, commander of the Manteufel Division, and General Krause, commander of the Armoured Groups’ Artillery. Describing the surrender of the Axis troops to the Americans, the British United Press correspondent says that German officers of the staff of MaiorGeneral Borowictz approached the American lines with a white flag. The Germans wanted to make terms, but the American commander. MajorGeneral Bradley, insisted on unconditional surrender. Seven Generals Captured Seven German generals have been Captured. Major-General Weber and MuiorGcneral Borowictz were cut off in the area between Bizcrte and Tunis by J‘ ie rapid advance to Tunis. MajorGeneral Weber went to Tunisia in January to command his division. Major-General Borowictz was the fourth general to command the 15th Panzer Division during its two years {n Africa. Me replaced Marshal von Kteisl loot November. General Krause, "ho is the senior of those generals Raptured, is an artillery specialist. He had been senior artillery officer in General von Aniim's Panzer Army and then in the Tunisia Army Group. He i: ' rve d in die campaign in Greece. , The fil'tli German general captured b Major-General Basscngc, commander m the Lufiv. afl'e defences at Bizertc. fhe sixth was Major-General Nauffe, b'minandor of a Luftwaffe division, and me seventh Major-General von Vaerst, commander of the sth Panzer Division. Sixty-four thousand German and Italian prisoners have so far been taken .Tunisia, stales the Algiers radio, '■filch also says that Axis prisoners are turning in at the rate of 1000 an hour. .. message from Tunis says that the -beam of prisoners along the roads has taiised frequent traffic hold-ups. j„ u authoritatively stated in Lon- ?° n mat there arc about 140,000 Axis 1 if°?u S t° b° accounted for, and tn u nuni bcr of prisoners is found i ina; A cwer than is expected, it wilt ■ Trm l( l at ? ■ *hat enemy losses have been higher than was expected. It , v ■ ' vc! l be that the killed and vou ndcd ((/wil 10[)000 lcaving 400 00 ! l ° b ? dealt with. - fco* riSo . ners 50 f' ar include 3000 memi v^L 0f tho Luftwaffe. Reports from ' IOUs sources in Tunisia say that both

FUTURE COURSE OF WAR

“ANOTHER SUMMER OF MAJOR CRISIS” VIEWS OF AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT (Hoc. 11.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 11. “Germany is badly hurt but is still strong, and the world faces another summer of major crisis which will determine the duration and cost of the war." says Mr Hanson Baldwin, “New York Times” correspondent, in the first of a series of articles based on a recent tour of the European war theatres. “The Tunisian campaign represents not only the end of the beginning, but the first great British-American victory in Europe,” writes Mr Baldwin. “Contrary to the popular American impression, tho victory is primarily British. But Tunisia, although a great victory, has been costly and time-consuming, delaying for months the land invasion of Europe. o “Although Germany has been weakened by the strain on her manpower and the relative decline of the Luftwaffe, this summer may witness another ‘March, 1918.’ A German offensive, probably against Russia, may possibly be paralleled by a Japanese blow somewhere in the Pacific. Germany will also intensify U-boat warfare, but the new Allied devices and methods, and more escort ships and aeroplanes, should reduce sinkings before the winter.” Summarising the opinions of many United Nations military and political leaders with whom he talked, Mr Baldwin voices the opinion that Germany has lost the war. but that the United Nations have not yet won it. The enemy, he says, is still able to throw into battle the largest and certainly the most experienced and most competent army in the world. Hitler may have abandoned hope of total victory, but the German Army and people arc fighting on strongly and desperately, and the enemy leaders hope for a limited victory. or at least a stalemate. Mr Baldwin was amazed by the problems the Allies have solved and the production and supply miracles they have achieved. “The troops are raw. but have courage and loyalty.” he says, “but I am disappointed with our past combat operations, the present state of preparations for the trials ahead, and the lack of progress in creating efficient United Nations war machinery.” Mr Baldwin summarises other impressions as follows: —(1) The most optimistic Allied leaders believe that Germany may crack this autumn, and tho majority think that victory is possible in 1944 or 1945; <2) the American troops are not yet in (he same league as tho Germans: and the American Air Force is not yet experienced enough to get the most from its material. though combat losses are sharply in its favour and its bombing heavily weights the scales of war in the Mediterranean and eastern Europe.

the Luftwaffe and the Regia Aeronatica abandoned the battle in Africa. Most of the high commanders and many pilots went off in aeroplanes, leaving the ground staffs without air support. The Berlin radio said that the Italian General Mcssc was left in command in Tunisia. It is recalled that General Messe criticised Marsha] Rommel for leaving the Italians behind at El Alamein. His criticism was published in Italy. General Giraud’s Secretary of Information (M. Andre Labarthei said it was estimated that 42,000 Axis troops were wounded in the North African campaign between November 9 and May 9, and the Axis lost 530 tanks, 600 guns, and 4500 vehicles.