HAUL OF GENERALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 May 1943, Page 3

HAUL OF GENERALS

IN ’TUNISIAN AND OTHER CAMPAIGNS MORE DETAILS OF ENORMOUS AXIS LOSSES. IN MEN AND MATERIAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 16. Eighteen Axis generals, including 14 Germans, were captured in Tunisia. The total number captured by the Allies, not including Russia, is now 111, of whom 19 ar e Germans. ■ All but one—Major-General Friemel, who was captured by the Dutch at Rotterdam in May, 1940 —have been taken in Africa. The other four German generals, including von Thoma, the commander at El Alamein, were captured between November, 1941, and November. 1942. Ten of the Italian generals were captured at El Alamein and others in various stages of the African campaign, . including East Africa. In addition to the 111 captured generals, the Allies hold prisoner two Italian rear-admirals. Some of the Italians, including the Duke of Aosta, have died in captivity. Major-General Lord Mottistone (Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, and one-time British Secretary of 'War), in a speech yesterday said, “I have good reason for saying that the number of prisoners captured in Tunisia will exceed 193,000, of whofn 150,000 will be Germans. Our resounding victory in North Africa is but the forerunner of a series of victories.” The Axis prisoners captured in Tunisia now total 175,000, said the Algiers radio yesterday. Mussolini lost in Africa every armoured division he ever had. Hitler lost three of his oldest and best panzer formations. All the Italian infantry and motorised divisions which were considered to be above mediocrity were wiped out. That was only part of the fearful cost to the Axis'for the campaigns in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia. It was disclosed in Washington that the Allied air forces in North Africa destroyed approximately 2000 planes, including 770 between the time of the Allied landings and the Axis collapse. A French communique yesterday stated that the number of disarmed prisoners in French hands in cential Tunisia had risen to 36,000, and more than 200 guns of all calibres in good condition had been captured. It was reported that the last Axis soldier in Africa was captured on Thursday. “Prime Minister: It is my duty to report that the Tunisian campaign is over. All enemy resistance has ceased. We are the masters of the North African shores.” —This message was received at No. 10 Downing Street from General Sir Harold Alexander on Thursday.