FIERCE QUARREL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 November 1942, Page 3

FIERCE QUARREL

BETWEEN AXIS LEADERS IN AFRICA ALLEGED IN REPORTS FROM ROME. CHARGES OF COWARDICE & DESERTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) NEW YORK, November 28. A clash of opinions, with open charges of cowardice and desertion, broke out between Field-Marshal Rommel and the Italian desert leader, General Bastico, according to reliable reports reaching the “New York Times,” from Rome.

Bastico, reporting to the Italian High Command, charged that Rommel was overriding his decisions and invited disaster in attempting to proceed east of El Alamein. He added that Rommel overconfidently jeered, “You may stay at El Alamein if you wish, I have I enough forces to proceed alone to Alex- ’ andria, and even farther.” Rommel also seized trucks and guns of the Italian rear-guards in the retreat. When Bastico, in view of the situation of Tropoli, refused to sanction an ladvance via the Libyan south-eastern fortifications political pressure was exerted and, following a stormy interview between Count Ciano, Feld-Mar-shal von Keitel, and Herr von Ribbentrop, the Reich assumed on November 10, the entire responsibility for the defense of Tunisia, whereupon Herr Hitler sent five additional divisions, including two armoured divisions, to Milan, allegedly in order to reinforce the Tunisian armies.