INDIANS TAKE YON ARNIM

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23948, 15 May 1943, Page 5

INDIANS TAKE YON ARNIM

NO ATTEMPT MADE TO RESIST ALLIED TERMS AT FIRST REJECTED (Rec. 7 p.m.'i LONDON. May 13. “The haughty, English-hating von Arnim at first rejected the unconditional surrender terms.” says the correspondent of the British United Press, at the Ist Army Headquarters. “Von Arnim was captured in his headquarters which were carved out of a mountainside 18 miles west of Hammamet. “Although he knew that his last retreat was cut off. he remained every inch the typical Prussian militarist. He sent a*message to Lieutenant-General Anderson, consisting of one word; “Terms?’ The reply came back; ‘Unconditional surrender.’ The reply also demanded that the blowing up and destruction of equipment should cease, that all weapons and tanks should be handed over, and that von Arnim’s men should assist in sweeping up the Axis minefields. “Von Arnim’s whole frame shook as the terms were read. Striking his fist into his other hand he unhesitatingly refused the terms. "Lieutenant-General Anderson sent out a patrol from the 4th Indian Division to bring in von Arnim with his staff and persuade him that further resistance was useless. The patrol found von Arnim standing in his headquarters. There was no attempt to resist. He was driven more than 100 miles and Lieutenant-General Anderson received the dust-covered captive in the tent from which the blitz had been directed. Von Arnim finally accepted the terms when ho realised that the position was hopeless.” General von Arnim before his capture sent a message to Hiller saying: I report that your orders to defend 'Tunisia to the last cartridge have been carried out.” Other generals captured are MajorGeneral Franz, commanding the lllth Anti-Aircraft Division, and for tho last few days commander of the Hermann Gocring Division in place of General Schmidt; Major-General bchnarrcnbcrgcr, commander of lines °r communication; and Colonel Hul•2en, acting in command of the 21st ■Panzer Division. Captured Italians include General Costa, second-in-com-mand'of the Ccntauro Division, and General Apponie, president of the Military Tribunal, During (he fighting General von Arniin received a message from Miissohni sa>mg that the Axis peoples followed with admiration and pnde the achievements of ine AJrican army group. Hitler followed with a special communique, which stated that The epic mcucgle of thr> African forces would be one of the most glorious chapters “ the military history o i the Ger-

man people. The communique claimed that the Axis forces finally succumbed to lack of supplies and not to the enemy's assault. Nevertheless the task ’assigned them had been fully accomplished. They had tied down m Null th Africa strong enemy forces and inflicted heavy losses, and nad relieved ether fronts and gained time. The communique added that Hitler on May 10 sent a message to General von Arnim of thanks and appreciation in which he said that the heroic fight had been of the highest value for tire result of the war. ]