DESERT RAID

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 283, 28 August 1942, Page 5

DESERT RAID

Maoris Take Some Prisoners

FEW CASUALTIES (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) WESTERN fiESERT, August 26. The Maori Battalion early this morning shattered the lull on the El Alamein front with an attack on two companies of Italians occupying a strong strategic position off the western end of the Ruweisat Ridge. The New Zealand artillery paved the way with a barrage of more than 3000 rounds in 10 minutes concentrated on an area of 1500 square yards.

The Maoris returned to their lines as planned with a good haul of prisoners. Their casualties were very light. The attack was made after careful and daring reconnaissances. One of these was made by the Maoris’ commander and a colonel on the previous night when they penetrated the wire just outside the enemy positions. Promptly at 4 o’clock this morning the Maoris set out from the starting line in a northerly direction under cover of what was probably the heaviest artillery fire this campaign has known. Their advance was from 800 to 1000 yards with two companies, the third company being In reserve. By the time the 10-minute barrage had ended with two smoke shells from each gun, the Maoris had passed through the minefield and the wire and were on their objective. Engineers had blown gaps in the wire and searched the ground for anti-personnel mines. Tremendous Barrage. The Italians were either dazed or in utter confusion—dazed by the tremendous weight of our artillery fire and confused by the spectacle of yelling Maoris in their midst with bayonets and tommyguns. They made a poor fight of it and the escarpment on which they had their positions had been completely cleared when the signal was given at 4.35 a.m. for the withdrawal. Our guns had continued to fire throughout the operation on areas in the vicinity. I followed the night's activities in company with a brigadier from Rangiora who has the Maori Battalion under his command. Early in the evening, I heard the plan of attack explained to the colonel of another battalion. “I reckon it will shake them to the back teeth.” he said, on hearing the extent of the artillery barrage. “You don’t know what's going to happen in a battle,” was the brigadier s cautious reply. “Whatever happens), we will have got. in first..” , Men In Good Heart.

Later, Lieut.-General Freyberg arrived with the new corps commander, and set out for the Maori’s lines. They visited one of the companies, the corps commander saying to the Maori Battalion on t.heir return: "I like your men—l found them all smiles and in great heart.” The brilliant moonlight had been dulled by a cloudy sky when the troops moved to the assembly point at 2 o’clock. The only sound was the distant thud of artillery fire further north. One of the faithful Wellington bombers clearly outlined against the sky passed overhead from its task.

Ambulances were in readiness. The colonel, with a tommy-gun slung over his shoulder checked details with the officers, while the brigadier walked jimong the men, who were iu splendid form—cheery aud unconcerned. Oue group softly hummed a tune.. There was many u subdued laugh. The angry snarl of a distant machinegun burst brought the remark from one: “That’s your last, boy." The men had had explained to Ilium by their colonel carefully and in detail the plans of 11m attack. The troops moved to the startiug Hue. At 4 o'clock to the second, the quiet was rent by a blast of artillery tire. A seemingly endless stream of shells screamed overhead. The terrific din was punctuated by even more deafening explosions as the shells found their mark. Spraying sparks from the exploding shells showed that the troops had reached the wire. Artillery fire continued to be heavy but nothing’ like those tremendous 10 minutes. The rattle of small arms fire was heard intermittently. The withdrawal signals shot into the air and we waited expectantly. At 4.40 a.m. the shelling ceased, but enemy mortar fire fell harmlessly on their own counter-offensive lines. Before long the Maoris had returned with their prisoners. Said one officer: “There was no need for smoke —-the dust from our shelling was thick enough." “If we had only had sheepdogs, we could have rounded them all up.” said another. Mortar fire had been encountered from positions behind the objective, but it was not serious and only a few machinegun posts opened up during the advance. Engineers destroyed numerous small-calibre guns.