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C. \V.Kisk Lives to Learn roe s becretsAllies Knew Mark 6 And 88 Before They Got Into Action•/ *.By George TuckerAssociated Press War CorrespondentCAIRO, Apr. 12—The ability of Britishintelligence experts to anticipate theinnovations and designs of the enemy'sweapons long before they could be putinto operation in the field has been a definite factor in the defeat now engulfing the Axis forces in North Africa.The British commanders knew all about the new 62-ton Mark Six German tank— the “ Tiger ”—18 months before it appeared in action, and this foreknowledge enab. d the Allied chiefs to reallocate their armor and anti-tank defenses, so that when the test came it achieved only a nominal local success.This is true, in spite of the “ ghost stories ” which credited the Mark Six with being a monster able to rumble through the opposition unharmed, while 25-pounders bounced off its sides.British intelligence officers were grimly amused by these stories. At the very moment when they were current, experts were busy examining a Mark Six which had been knocked out by a 25-pounder.Of the hundreds of variations in types of battle equipment introduced by the enemy in this war, none has caught Allied intelligence unawares.Risked Lives for FaelsThey have risked and sometimes lost lives to gain foreknowledge of guns, tanks and explosives.Last year the Germans came out with an improved version of their famous 88 anti-tank anti-aircraft gun, and the information the British had was that it did not have a higher rate of fire than its predecessors, as claimed.It was first used at Bardia, and in bitter fighting which ensued one British officer ran across pen field fire to check personally the rate of fire on the 88 while it was in action.There were high casualties on both sides in ibis engagement before Axis forces were captured or wiped out, but the officer on the trail of the 88 got the information he wanted and escaped without a scratch.Recently a new German 75 appeared, and in hastily vacating an untenable position one of these guns ran into its own minefield and had a wheel blown off. An enlisted man commandeered a mine-detec-tion squad, invaded the live minefield and brought the gun safely out.It is being examined by our experts now.Suicide MissionLess fortunate was the officer who gave his life to get information regarding a special type of tank the Germans were using during the siege pf Tobruk. A number of these tanks were damaged on the outskirts', but it was suicide to try and reach them. This officer flew in at night, made an examination and passed the information out, but was killed while trying to escape.These incidents only scratch the sur-PRIVATE BREGERVIr* .-.‘.VtWM............... . ••••■. 4^Keystone PhotosHere are two items of Rommel’s desert equipment captured by the Allies in an early drive in Tunisia. On top is the famed German 88mm. anti-tank, anti-aircraft gun. At bottom is a self-propelled 150mm. assault gun, leftbehind because of lack of fuel.es him more confidence!5 ’face of the enormous amount of lime, care, money and energy which are expended to keep a jump ahead of enemy armaments.One of the latest German weapons is a new anti-tank grenade known as the Ritierkreuzladung. It is a funnel-shaped contraption with three heavy magnets at the open end, strong enough to make a grenade stick to any piece of metal it touches.Explosive InsufficientHaving captured a number of these and examined them closely, the British no longer are worried. The explosive they carry is insufficient to do real damage to a heavy tank and they are very demoralizing to the troops who use them.They can only be exploded by releasing the pin at the cone end of the grenade, and once the pin is released the man who uses k has to find cover within four seconds.But the classic example of the lengths to which the British go to obtain new armament secreis, and the efforts the Germans make to frustrate them, was provided just inside the Egyptian-border when the first Mark Four fell into Allied hands.It was captured intact and with a volunteer crew the British headed it back towards Cairo, The Germans made desperate attempts to keep the British from examining it, and bombed the tank every step of the way. The tank finally reached its destination, but only after it had been hit and set on fire.First step necessary was to give the tank a thorough firing test; a dangerous assignment as nobody knew the condition of the gun. But one young officer un-hesistatingly entered the tank and pulled the string.Sea Battle Over TankThe next step was to get the tank home to England for inspection by British designers. So it was taken to Suez and placed on the forward deck of a great transatlantic liner. That night the Ger-mans made repeated desperate attempts to forestall further examination by a heavy air attack on Suez shipping..The liner received a direct hit and by daylight it was listing badly and enveloped in flames. For a moment it seemed as ifthe captured prize was doomed. The port authorities and naval officials were convinced that the tank could not be rescued.But there happened to be in Suez at the time a young British officer who thought otherwise. He was Maj. David Evans, a quiet soft-spoken Welshman, who decided to take rescue operations into his own hands.First he boarded the ship by a rope ladder and made his way forward where the tank was resting on the sloping deck. The heat was already so intense that the bolts of the tank were warped and could not be removed. *Maj. Evans returned to the shore and argued in vain with the port naval authorities, who were convinced nothing could be done to save either ship or tank.But making a hurried inspection Evans discovered a 30-ton crane which at the time was the only one there.He assembled a volunteer crew. Surmounting enormous difficulties they engineered the crane to the ship's side, swung it over the deck, lifted the tank on to a barge and got it safely ashore.But for this if might have been months before British designers could have got first-hand knowledge of the newest German armor. For his ingenuity, perseverance and daring, Maj. Evans was awarded the George Medal.Dad Addresses ’EmDear Corporal:I have a son in your squad,He's eighteen, only a kid,Since childhood he's knelt to God, His Mom adores him, our Sid.Is it asking too much to be kind.To have him a bit on your mind ?Dear Sergeant:I know you've got to be tough.My son is under your eye.I swear that he's got the stuff.But doesn't say much—he's shv.*» tf,Would you mind going easy a bit While he's getting more used to it ?Dear Captain:Of course you’d not know our Sid, He's Sidney McAllan Clapp;But I sort of feel if you did You'd give his shoulder a slap When you see him a trifle down—He's a boy that will go to town.*Dear Colonel:I've a son in your regiment.Three million six hundred and three. He's fine as they make ’em. Gent, Won't you ask him in for tea ?He's used to such things all right.And be sure when it’s fight he'll fight.Dear General:There’s countless boys and my son Who take their orders from you. They're intending, every last one,To see this business through.But when they move up ’gainst the guns Please think of them as your sons.M.r. President:I know that you're just and kind, Want everything right for us all.And I hope you don’t much mind That I interrupt with a call Just to clasp your hand and to say.My son, like your sons, is away.46 SperkyLenten MessageMark 11:22—“Jesus saith unto*them, Have faith in God.’’That was the answer He gave to those who were searching for a fuller and more satisfying life.Food, clothing, shelter, recreation, work and marriage are not enough. Animals have as much . . . man needs more. Every soldier needs more, and his crowning need is faith in God and in the justice of a loving Father.Christian living is based on faith, and those who find a fuller life attain it only when they possess the courage to venture to live a life based on faith in God and his eternal care for those who trust in Him.
Newspaper Details
London Stars and Stripes
London, Middlesex, GB
Tue, Apr 13, 1943
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Noel F.
USA 03 Dec 2022
Other Publications Near London, Middlesex
Bingleys Journal
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