OUTFLANKED

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

OUTFLANKED

AUCKLAND UNITS Scattered Parties Return To Brigade H.Q. (Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, July 18. Outflanked after a day of losses and helpless against tanks and armoured vehicles, men of the Auckland battalion in formation on the right of the New Zealand positions, returned during last night in scattered parties to their brigade headquarters. Throughout the day they had been under fire from automatic weapons with which the enemy sprayed them from the shelter of pits they had overrun during the previous night's attack. As the evening haze developed there was heavy shelling and mortar fire. Only one move was possible — to move back and reorganise. There were still troublesome enemy pockets as late as six o'clock in the evening, although many had been disposed of with big hauls of prisoners.

A less-seriously depleted South Island battalion on the extreme right was now exposed, and moved to cover the flank of the adjoining division. With great difficulty, a message was sent through for it to withdraw to a r>osition near brigade headquarters, which it did in excellent order. Reorganisation began immediately. By early morning battle groups had been formed and were in position.