LOST ITALIANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1942, Page 4

LOST ITALIANS

DYING BY THOUSANDS IN DESERT AFTER BEING ABANDONED BY ROMMEL. BRITISH RESCUE EFFORTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, November 11. Rommel's abandonment of six Italian infantry divisions without food, water or transport, in the open desert, is developing into one of the most terrible disasters that has ever befallen a modern army. The "Daily Mail's” Cairo correspondent says tens of thousands of Italians are completely lost and are dying of thirst and exposure after wandering for days searching for the Allies to take them prisoner. Many hundreds have given up hope. They have dropped to the sand exhausted and are awaiting death. The rounding un of these thousands of Italians, at first a tragi-comedy, has become an urgent, humanitarian necessity. Squadrons of Allied planes are flying low over hills and valleys, locating lost groups, and dozens of mobile rescue columns are being organised, equipped with water-carriers, food and medical supplies. The problem of saving the Italians is occupying much of the time of British General Headquarters and of British troops, who have turned quickly from killing the enemy to rescuing them. Working hard in this unexpected task, they have already shepherded many pitiable bands of prisoners to camps. Captured supplies prove that the German forces in Egypt were lavishly equipped with all kinds of food.