NO LETTING UP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25068, 9 November 1942, Page 3

NO LETTING UP

BRITISH DETERMINATION COMPLETE DEFEAT OF AXIS (Rec. 5 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 6. Reports of General Montgomery’s press conference refer to “ the complete and absolute victory in the battle of El Alamein.” General Montgomery added; “We must not think that, because we have this victory, we can let up. I have no intention of doing so. I have said we would hit the enemy for six—right out of North Africa. Having done him in here, we are going to proceed with the job.” General Montgomery, referring to General von Thoma. the captured commander of the Afrika Korps, said; “ This is the first time a commanding general has ever talked with an opposing commanding general while the battle was going on. General von Thoma and I on Wednesday discussed previous desert battles during dinner, and, marking up the positions on the tablecloth, General von Thoma declared ‘The situation is critical.’ I told General von Thoma a lot of things he did not know about the previous night’s battle.”

General von Thoma told General Montgomery: “ We were optimistic. We knew you were going to attack, but thought we could hold you and push you back.” General Montgomery replied; “ It did not turn out that way.”

A Rome radio commentator said; “The North African situation is undoubtedly serious, but the Italian people are awaiting developments with serene calm. They are ready to cope with whatever is in store for them. We must resist, not only because of a few yards of ground, but because Italy’s future as a nation is at stake.” American Sherman tanks are reported to have been prominent in the Allied offensive. They are improved General Grants, and are the most powerful tanks used in the desert. The Sherman carries a 75-millimetre gun. which is at least equal to the biggest gun mounted on Axis tanks in the desert.

It is now j-evealed that marines landed on a small island off Crete and blew up a radio station. The operation is believed to have been timed to coincide with the Eighth Army’s offensive, and to have been designed to disrupt Rommel’s communications with the garrison.

The correspondent of the British United Press at Alexandria says that, although Mussolini’s major naval units are still based on Taranto, the Axis in the last few days, in order to attempt the hazardous passage of the Mediterranean, is using powerful sea air escorts. One convoy comprising four ships had an escort of 11 destroyers.

The Star, in a leading article, says: “ Staunchly the Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, and Fighting French stood by their British comrades after the disaster of last summer in the Western Desert. They never lost faith in our leadership. That steadfastness is now reaping its reward, and all those gallant men are savouring the fruits of success after weary months on the defensive. Britain, for her part, always has been grateful for the wonderful support given her, not only by the Imperial forces, but also by their peoples in the dominions. In this moment we all pay a tribute to their glorious part in the victory over Rommel.” DIFFICULT PROBLEM HANDLING OF PRISONERS A RUSH TO SURRENDER (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 8 The Eighth Army is having difficulty in coping with the number of Italians rushing to surrender. A Daily Express correspondent in the Western Desert says that our armoured units out in front are constantly sending the radio message, “ What in blazes are we to do with all these prisoners? ” The correspondent adds that the enemy is surrendering to our tanks in groups of 50 to 100. The tank crews cannot handle the rush of prisoners. They only stop long enough to _ show the Axis prisoners in which direction to walk. “We have just passed a convoy of 10 big Axis lorries in which the prisoners are packed like flies,” the correspondent writes. Reuters correspondent with the Eighth Army says that along the mad from El Daba to Fuka parties of over 100 Italians were inquiring where they were able to surrender. “A little Cockney rifleman asked me to take about 100 Italians from his hands,” the correspondent says. “ They kept following him demanding that he take them prisoner, and he had another job to do. One group of Italians near El Daba fired against a British convoy. Two New Zealand Bren gun carriers immediately opened up, but, after two bursts, plus some hearty New Zealand swearing, the whole lot streamed out with their hands up.” OVERWHELMINGLY BRITISH* EIGHTH ARMY’S EQUIPMENT (Rec. 5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 0. Describing the battle in North Africa as a victory of major importance, President Roosevelt told a press conference that General Montgomery’s equipment was overwhelmingly British He added that only a small part of the equipment used in the assault against Rommel’s forces was of American origin, and American equipment had been instrumental in the advance only to a minor degree. President Roosevelt disclosed that recent intelligence reports from Germany show that Nazi war production has declined sharply in recent montns, as a consequence of too long working hours.