LACKED AH SUPPORT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 225, 24 September 1942, Page 5

LACKED AH SUPPORT

ROMMEL LAYS CHARGE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WITH KESSELRING (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) (Recd. 7.40 p.m.) London, Sept. 22. Neutral reports reveal an acute difference of opinion between Rommel and Kesselring, says the aeronautical correspondent of the Daily Express. Rommel recently secretly visited Kesselring’s headquarters near Rome, where he laid a charge that inadequate air support was given the Axis forces in the attack early in September. Kesselring said all available aircraft were sent to North Africa for the attack in September, when the Luftwaffe strength was as great as when Rommel broke through to Alamein. ITALIANJCLAIMS CLASH IN GIALO OASIS London, Sept. 22. This morning's Italian communique reported fighting in the Gialo Oasis, in the Libyan Desert, during last week and this week. The communique reports a daring attack by Allied motor.ised forces. The oasis is a desert stronghold 500 miles behind the Egyptian battlefront and 230 miles south-east of Benghazi. There is no information in London of any such operation. The Italian communique describes a dawn attack by a numerically superior force, starting on September 16. According to the Italians, bitter fighting went on until yesterday, when the communique claims that Axis motorised forces came to the rescue of the Italian garrison and the Allied force retreated to the south. The Italian communique claims that great losses in men and material were inflicted on the enemy. The oasis was occupied by the Allies when General Cunningham's Eighth Army pushed back the Afrika Corp towards the end of last year.