ENEMY’S HEAVY LOSSES

Evening Star, Issue 24294, 8 September 1942, Page 3

ENEMY’S HEAVY LOSSES

POOR TYPE OF REINFORCEMENT SERIOUS SUPPLY MUDDLES (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 7. ‘ The Times ’ correpondent in the Western Desert says there is no official information concerning the enemy s losses last week, but it is conservatively estimated that his armoured losses were fourfold more severe than the Allies. His transport material losses were even heavier. Prisoners confirm that recent Afrika Korps reinforcements were younger, of poorer physique, audl less well trained. The enemy’s staff work was not so good. There are tales of serious supply muddles. A part of the Afrika Korps ran out of food and petrol after two days’ fighting. On the other hand, the leadership and staff work ot the Eighth Army were refreshingly excellent Our plans were earned out with exactitude.

CONTROLLED WITHDRAWAL EMY TACTIG6 PREVENT RAPID PURSUIT LONDON, September 7. ‘The Times ’ says that, although the Allies have won a full-scale victory durin" the past week, Rommel will be performing a valuable service for the Axis if ho can contain onr forces there ami keep them from the Caucasus. The situation in Russia, ‘ The Times ’ adds, has taken a turn, and is becoming a threat to the Middle East itself. “ The withdrawal of the Afrika Korps was essentially a controlled withdrawal,” says the ‘ Daily Telegraph correspondent in the Western Desert. “ Although the Axis forces were constantly harassed, they retired more or less at their own speed. The Afrika Korps’s screen of anti-tank guns, which they loft behind, prevented rapid pursuit, which would have xilayad into the enemy’s hands. The British United Press correspondent with the Eighth Army says FieldMarshal Rommel’s infantry, as well_ as his armoured forces, suffered heavily. One Maori battalion, in furious hand-to-hand fighting, killed at least 500, including between 150 and 200 Germans, while probably as many were wounded. NEW ZEALAND PLATOON SAFE RETURN TO LINES (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) WESTERN DESERT, Sept. 5. A party of South Islanders, of about platoon strength, who were cut off from ' their battalion during Thursday night’s attack, returned to our lines through heavy fire this morning. They had

advanced well forward during the attack. and throughout yesterday all the enemy’s efforts to dislodge them failed. They shot at an enemy staff’ car, killed two German officers and two Italians, and captured the driver. Then from a distance they watched while the Italians buried the dead. The party was subjected to harassing lire, and suffered some casualties.