Commander Of Afrika Corps Among 9000 Axis Prisoners.

Northern Advocate, 5 November 1942, Page 3

Commander Of Afrika Corps Among 9000 Axis Prisoners .

(Received 3 p.m.) (8.0. W.) RUGBY, November 4. THE MIDDLE EAST JOINT COMMUNIQUE ANNOUNCING 1 THAT AXIS FORCES IN THE WESTERN DESERT ARE IN FULL RETREAT AFTER 12 DAYS AND NIGrfTS OF CEASELESS ATTACKS BY OUR LAND FORCES, SAYS: “GENERAL VON STUMME, SENIOR GENERAL. WHO IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN IN COMMAND DURING ROMMEL’S ABSENCE IN GERMANY, IS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN KILLED.

“So far we, have captured over 9000 prisoners, including General Ritter von Thoma, commander of the German Afrika Corps, and a number of other senior German and Italian officers. “It is known that the enemy losses in killed and wounded have been exceptionally high. “Up to date we have destroyed more than 260 German and Italian tanks and captured or destroyed at least 270 guns.

“Isolated enemy columns are being relentlessly attacked by our land forces and the Allied air forces by day and night. “Our air forces have destroyed and damaged in air combat over 300 aircraft and destroyed or put out of action a like number on the ground.

“At sea our naval and air forces have sunk 50,000 tons and damaged as much again of shipping carrying Axis supplies to North Africa.” The Eighth Army continues to advance.

His Majesty’s Message

The King has sent the following message to General Alexander: “The Eighth Army, magnificent-

ly supported by the R.A.F. and

units of the Royal Navy, have

dealt the Axis a blow of which the

importance cannot be exaggerated. “For the last fortnight we all have been following with anxious interest the progress of the hardfought battle, and I can assure all three services, embracing as they do the many representatives of the British Commonwealth and our Allies, of the admiration and pride of the whole Empire in their brilliant victory. “In the name of your fellow countrymen all the world over, I express to you, to tender to General Montgomery,- to Air Marshal Coningham and to the commanders and all ranks of the three services, my thanks for the far-reaching success which, by

your untiring co-operation, you have so decisively achieved.” Steadily Encouraging

Combined land, sea and air opera-

tions by Allied' forces in the past 24 hours have resulted in driving Rommel's African army still further back, states a Cairo agency message. News from the front continues to be

steadily encouraging, although there is only a little information about the armoured battle which appears to have gone in our favour. British forces occupied a highly important point at Tel El Akakir on Monday night. There are indications that British and Dominion troops are all now west of Sidi Ab Del Rahman itself.

The pressure of the Army continued all day on Tuesday* along the whole line and Axis prisoners continue to arrive while troops pushed forward relentlessly. Airmen’s Biggest Day

Allied air forces broke all records in a number of sorties over the battle area and along the coast road. It was probably the biggest day the Allied air forces had had in any African campaign and they did tremendous damage.

From first light on Tuesday until dark, light bombers went off from our forward landing grounds with fighter escorts to attack a variety of targets which had been arranged the night before. Seven waves went over between dawn and lunch. The skies over the battle area were ’thick with Allied planes.

Throughout the day there was not

an interval of 10 minutes when

Allied bombers were not going out or coming in. Excellent Targets

In the afternoon, air tactics changed. Light bombers and lighter-bombers were switched from the. task of the morning to attack the movement of enemy vehicles going along the coast read. As the bombers swooped down on their targets, fires broke out along a length of many miles among the enemy vehicles, strung out on the coast road. Traffic hold-ups resulted, which provided excellent targets for Allied bombers. Until the last light, our bombers continued to pound slowmoving enemy transport. Before dusk, Allied medium bombers aided by naval aircraft, started their jobs of bombing which was carried on right throughout the night. Although no details are yet available of Tuesday night’s operations, it is known that for the Allied aircraft it was a very successful night. Enemy air activity was well subdued by the brilliant work of Allied fighters and bombers.