SWEPT FROM EGYPT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25069, 10 November 1942, Page 3

SWEPT FROM EGYPT

DEPLETED AXIS FORCES 40,000 PRISONERS COUNTED LONDON, Nov. 8. Most of Rommel's fast-retreating forces have now been driven from Egypt. This news was contained in a late agency message from Cairo, which adds that the reports that the Ger-' mans were rushing four divisions from Greece to reinforce Rommel have been officially denied in Cairo. It is slated that it is very unlikely that they could spare any field divisions from either Russia or France. The Allied air forces are right on the heels of the advancing ground forces, many squadrons operating from aerodromes which one or two days ago they were blitzing. The captured aerodromes are all littei'ed with the wrecks of planes and gliders totalling several hundreds. Some of the gliders were capable of carrying trucks. Large Number of Prisoners 'The Columbia Broadcasting System's correspondent, broadcasting from Cairo in the afternoon, declared that the Eighth Army had captured the Pavia Division and that 30,000 to 40,000 prisoners had so far been counted. Five hundred tanks and about 1000 guns were also captured. The correspondent added that the bulk of the remnants of the German panzers had reached or passed the Libyan frontier. The last German rearguard unit fighting east of Halfaya Pass had been overwhelmed a few miles west of Mersa Matruh. The Allied forces are nearing the Libyan frontier in unremitting pursuit of the tattered remnants of Rommel’s armies. The British forces arejiow in the vicinity of Sidi Barrani, and perhaps beyond it. Reuters correspondent in the desert estimates that Rommel’s force is now less than 20,000, which is being chased, by-passed, and steadily hunted down. The numerous hurriedly-abandoned camps testify to the speed of the British advance. Personal belongings are scattered everywhere.

The Eighth Army is leap-frogging forward in similar fashion to Wavell’s army when Mussolini’s armies were routed early in the campaign. Enemy Short of Weapons

In a battle south of Kasaba, which is between Bagush and Morsa Matruh, Axis armies used 28 tanks, with three 88-millimetre guns. One correspondent states that this is believed to be the major portion of Rommel’s remaining weapons in fighting order. Thousands of hungry and thirsty Italians are being rounded up in the open desert. The South African' armoured columns in two days collected 4000 Italians south of Matruh. British armoured units m the same time destroyed or captured 50 Italian tanks. General Frattini, commander of the Folgore Division, 1 and also two 'other Italian divisional generals, have been captured. The Axis rout really began at El Daba, when the retreating forces lost all semblance of order, and went completely to pieces. The British are salvaging enormous quantities of new and unused equipment. SIX DIVISIONS CAPTURED ITALIAN INFANTRYMEN LONDON, Nov. 8. The six Italian infantry divisions which were trapped in the desert have all been captured with complete equipment. The Italian equipment destroyed or captured includes 300 field medium guns, 500 anti-tank guns, and 100 anti-aircraft guns. Allied heavy and medium bombers continue their non-stop battering of the retreating enemy. Massed Axis transport, including tanks, has been heavily pounded. The crews of our aircraft are particularly enthusiastic about last night’s work. They reported tremendous damage.