EL ALAMEIN BATTLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25346, 30 October 1945, Page 5

EL ALAMEIN BATTLE

A GERMAN VIEWPOINT VITAL PETROL LACKED (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 29 The German view of the Battle of El Alamein was given to the Hamburg correspondent of the Times by MajorGeneral Johann Cramer, who was taken prisoner at Cape Bon, Tunisia, and was later repatriated on account of his illhealth. He said: "EI Alamein was lost before it was fought. We had not the petrol. Vast stocks of petrol and materials were lying around in Italy and the Italians were supposed to bring them over, but they could not do it. "Rommel for a long time had known that the campaign in North Africa was hopeless, not because we lacked weapons or reserves, but because of the petrol shortage. He appealed to Hitler to end the campaign as soon as Alamein was lost, so as to save us much greater losses later on—losses which in fact we suffered at Cape Bon. We could have taken Alexandria and Egypt in the summer of 1942, but Rommel knew we could not have held it. "There were only two ways we could have held North Africa. One would have been to have taken Gibraltar Crete and Malta. The other way would hare been with a giant pincer movement coming through the Caucasus and joining with us in the Middle East. But we were defeated at Stalingrad and Alamein and that was the turning point of the war. The war in North Africa was a gentlemen's war. ' Asked about Rommel, Cramer said: "He was no Nazi. He never allowed any S.S. in his ranks or any high party men. For a bit he may have heen impressed by Hitler, but he quickly realised what Hitler's r.ule meant."

Cramer spoke of Rommel's death. Rommel was convalescing after his accident in Normandy at his home near Flm when he was suspected of toeing concerned with the plot against Hitler. He was called for by two generals in a car—Burgdorf and Meisel. The next thing his family knew was that Rom* mel was dead. He had carried poison for just this eventuality, as he had indeed been concerned in the plot.

EMPIRE TRADING AUSTRALIA'S OBLIGATIONS (Herd. 7.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, Oct. 29 Resentment and bitterness were growing in Britain because Australia was not fulfilling its obligations under Empire preference although it insisted on retaining the system. The Senate Leader of the Opposition, Senator McLeav. made this charge today when urging' the abolition of import controls on all essential goods from Britain. Australia's present policy, he said, was helping Britain to financial disaster and ultimate international bankruptcy. There was no justification for the continuance of restrictions on essential goods which Britain desperately needed to sell to restore its economy and which Australia _ desperately required for reconstruction.

BANK OF ENGLAND BILL' (Reed, fi.lo p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 29

The House of Commons will today debate the Labour Government's first controversial measure, the bill to take public control of the Bank of England. The Government's plan will be explained by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Dr Hugh Dal ton, and the Opposition will be Ted by. the former Chancellor, Sir John Anderson.

JET-PROPELLED BOMBS (Rmi 6.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Oct. 29 The United States Navy announces that it has been experimenting with jetpropelled bombs which can be guided to their targets by radio at speeds of more than 700 miles an hour.