LOSSES IN LIBYA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1941, Page 5

LOSSES IN LIBYA

THREE GENERALS MISSING CAPTURES CLAIMED BY NAZIS. R.A.F. INFLICTS CASUALTIES ON ENEMY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 10. “British forces east of Benghazi are concentrated in an area more adapted to future operations,” states a War Office announcement. “During the recent withdrawal extending over several days, we inflicted considerable casualties on the enemy. We lost a number .of prisoners and we are without news of the following three senior officers: Lieutenant-General P. Neame, V.C., Lieutenant-General Sir Richard O’Connor and Major-General M. D. Gambier-Parry. The Germans claim in a communique that they have captured 2000 prisoners. This figure would not be impossible under the conditions in which encounters have been taking place.” ‘ * Lieutenant-General O'Connor, who is 51, played a brilliant part in the successful British operations in the Western Desert and last month was awarded the K.C.B. for his services. He shared the responsibility for the careful planning of the operations in Libya and the command of the forces which effected their daring and successful execution last December.

Lieutenant-General Neame, who is also 51, gained the V.C. at Neuve Chappele in 1914 for holding back the enemy in spite of heavy rifle fire and bomb throwing and for rescuing all the wounded who could be moved,, Since the last war he has been an instructor, at the staff college and commandant of the Royal Military Academy. Major-General Gambier-Parry is a tank expert.