DESPATCH DENIED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26672, 19 January 1948, Page 4

DESPATCH DENIED

SOUTH AFRICAN COMMANDER SEEKS EXONERATION

Rec. 8.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 16. Major-general Klopper, commander' of the Northern Command of the South African Army, after reading General Auchinleck's despatches on the fall of Tobruk in* June, .1942, announced that he intended to ask the Prime Minister, Field Marshal Smuts, to exonerate him or to accept his resignation, says the Daily Express Johannesburg correspondent. General Auchinleck in his despatches stated that he gave instructions that Tobruk must not again be invested. He gave permission, however, when General Rommel was, attacking, that Tobruk might be allowed to become temporarily isolated. 1 The support which General Auchinleck hoped might be available in Tobruk’s southern flank was overcome and Rommel was able to complete the isolation of Tobruk. General Auchinleck said that on June 20. 1942, General Klopper asked General Ritchie's headquarters for permission to break out of Tobruk with his South African troops. General Auchinleck says he was given permission. The Daily Express quotes General Kloppen as saying that- he tried for seven hdurs to secure this permission, but was unable to get it until daybreak on June 21. 1942. and by this time his transport in the harbour area was destroyed and useless to his men on the perimeter.