LEAFLETS REPLACE BOMBS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 281, 26 August 1942, Page 5

LEAFLETS REPLACE BOMBS

Souvenirs For N.Z. Troops (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.)

WESTERN DESERT, August 23.

Leaflets have been dropped high over the New Zealand lines from German planes in the last two evenings. The wind carried most of them miles away, but those which reached their mark are highly prized as souvenirs. They are addressed to "men of New Zealand” and consist mostly of a tirade against the English and claims of German successes. On the reverse side is a fair representation of a kiwi among mountain palms. I have watched several groups of soldiers reading them, and have wished the perpetrator were there to see the effect. He would not waste paper or petrol if he could hear the New Zealanders’ derisive remarks. The leaflets were a welcome change from bombs, none of which has fallen for several days. Well forward in the New Zealand positions is a captured Italian 75 milimetre gun which Maori infantrymen are using daily with success against the enemy. “Hey, Digger, how you use this thing?” the Maoris asked artillerymen when first attracted by the gun’s possibilities. The gun was without sights, so the artillerymen suggested they should aim it by looking through the barrel. The Maoris did not know how to open the breach and, when this had been explained, they were left to their own devices. Much to everybody’s amazement, soon afterward the gun fired and has continued to fire at intervals ever since. Crude But Effective.

The Maoris’ methods show a total disregard of almost all the principles of artillery fire. The shelj is just shoved into the breech without being rammed home, a few handfuls of cordite are placed in a cartridge case, and when 'this is in position and the breech closed, the gun is ready to fire. With a long length of telephone wire attached to the trigger, the Maoris retire to slit trenches. A sharp tug on the wire and the gun fires. If the range is short, an extra handful of cordite is added to the next charge—if it is too long, the charge is reduced. By this method, the Maoris have harassed the enemy in his forward positions at a range of about 1000 yards.

IMMEDIATE AWARD

(N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) CAIRO, August 24. For outstanding bravery and initiative in operations over the Mediterranean, a New Zealand airman, Sergeant Alexander Raymond Brown has been given an immediate award of the Distinguished Flying ,Medal. The entire crew of the torpedo bomber m which he has flown for some time has been simultaneously honoured. The torpedo-bomber was commanded by a South African, Lieutenant E. T. Strover, who has piloted the same aicraft in several successful torpedo attacks on enemy shipping. Brown was a member of the crew on every occasion. ITALIAN TROOP PLANE SHOT DOWN (British Officlni Wireless.) RUGBY, August 24. A three-engined Italian transport plane laden with troops was shot down by our long-rauge fighters near Derna. Within seconds of the moment when it began Blithering toward the sea, men started to pour from it. When our fighters left the scene the survivors were swimming round the sinking aircraft. Medium bombers of the United States Army Air Force operated over the battle area in brilliant moonlight on Saturday night and bombed enemy workshops. R.A.F. medium and heavy bombers attacked bases, dumps and communications in the enemy’s rear.