THRILLING SIX MILE ADVANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 169, 20 July 1942, Page 3

THRILLING SIX MILE ADVANCE

BAYONET'S EFFICACY

New Zealanders Use It With Great Dash (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) CAIRO, July 18. A thrilling story of the New Zealanders' six-mile advance with the bayonet west of Ruweisat Ridge is told by the colonel in charge of the Wellington Battalion, 4th Brigade, who has just returned after making a gruelling escape from German captivity.

"We started off about 11 p.m. It was quite dark. Our objective was a ridge about six miles distant, and west of Ruweisat. W'hen we had gone about two miles we struck enemy forward defence machineguns. Our infantry went straight in with the bayonet, but the enemy gunners kept up concentrated fire till we were right amongst them, and then gave in quickly. Then on, we were taking prisoners all the time. Our troops stuck together in a fighting body all the way. There was never a sign of hesitation. About 4 a.m. we reached our objective. There seemed to be a great commotion up on the ridge, where there appeared to be headquarters. People were running everywhere trying to escape. We were able to take many prisoners. Accurate K.A.F. Bombing "Once on the ridge we immediately started digging in. The ground was very stony, turning the picks and making the going almost impossible. With the first light came our machine-gunners, lending us great support. Morale was greatly increased, especially when R.A.F. bombers swept over, dropping a load on enemy positions a few hundred yards distant. It was very heartening and the men cheered as the bombs found their marks. It is almost impossible to increase our men's respect for the air forces. The enemy soon realised their position and started sending over heavy mortar fire. By now we had been joined by a South Island battalion, this linking our fire and strengthening our defence. Throughout the day the enemy plastered heavy ground and air blasting shrapnel and mortars upon us. It was almost impossible to move. However, spirits were very high. We stuck it. We had found lots of rations and also water among the Italian trucks. Then later in the afternoon they attacked us with tanks, overrunning the position. There was little we could do about it.

Tank Set on Fire "One man had put a tank out of action. He climbed to the top, opened the lid, threw in a grenade and set the tank on fire. The Italian opposition we met during our advance had been mainly from the Bresia and Pavia Divisions and they were not very hard to overcome. Both our artillery and the R.A.F. had to a certain extent cleared the way the day before.

The colonel paid a great tribute to the men in the tanks, who "went in, kept their heads all the time, and did the right thing often on their own initiative." He was more than ever convinced of the efficacy of bayonetwielding. determined men.

"I think the bayonet as the deciding weapon in battle is the finest weapon we have. I have vet to see the enemy stand up and fight against it, and our New Zealanders can use it with dash." This same colonel, who himself used a bayonet, led the Wellington Battalion in the Mersa Matruh break-through.