42 DIVISIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1942, Page 4

42 DIVISIONS

WITHDRAWN BY GERMANS FROM RUSSIA TO MEET ALLIED THRUSTS IN MEDITERRANEAN. LUFTWAFFE UNDER IMMENSE STRAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright I (Received This Day. 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, November 12. The German High Command has ordered the immediate withdrawal of a quarter of its armed forces from the Eastern front, says the “New York Times” Ankara corres- j pondent. It is estimated that 42 , divisions, including thirteen armoured divisions, plus twenty squad- ] rons of the Luftwaffe, are now speeding westward to France, Italy and Africa, to meet the powerful British and American thrusts in Libya and the Western Mediterranean. The bulk of the 42 divisions were being sent to immense winter barracks in Hungary and South Austria when the Allied attacks in Africa caused a lightning revision of plans. The Luftwaffe is alreadj' under immense strain in the Caucasus and in fighting in a desperate effort to cover Rommel’s retreat, as well as to reinforce the Africa Korps with airborne troops. It has tapped aerodromes as far north as Norway, Prussia and Poland in a frantic attempt to baitei British and American transport and communications in the Mediterranean and Libya. , KT • A Moscow representative of the National Broadcasting Company says the Luftwaffe has almost disappeared from the Russian front. This is particularly noticeable at Stalingrad. The Oslo radio, quoting a Vichy report, says the Germans are u . sin S ■‘ lU dreds of planes of all types in the occupation of France. French rall have been placed at the disposal of the German Army and long trains are tia versing the country. Motorised units are also streaming southward in endless columns. THREE NAZI DIVISIONS BELIEVED TO BE IN ITALY. (Received This Day. 1 P’ m -> LONDON. November 12. Three German divisions are believed to be in Italy, says the “Express” military correspondent, Mr Morley Ric -■ ards German forces are spread over Northern Italy, and garrison Milan, Turin and Genoa. Italy’s anti-aircraft defences are pitiably weak, as the R.A.F. has discovered. It is believed that guns promised to Italy were not delivered when the raids on the Reich were intensified. The Paris radio says the French authorities have ordered the closing of the Franco-Swiss and Franco-Spanish frontiers.