EFFECTIVE RAIDS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 290, 5 September 1942, Page 7

EFFECTIVE RAIDS

New Zealanders Harass Rommel’s Forces NO MAJOR ACTIONS

(Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, September 3.

No major actions have so far been fought by the New Zealanders since Rommel started his offensive in his effort to reach Alexandria and the Nile delta. The New Zealand troops are still in the positions they have held for the past few weeks. Their main activities since Rommel started his attack early last Monday have been effective night raids and solid artillery action with our own 25-pounders, and with the medium Royal Artillery attached to the New Zealand formations. Before, the Axis offensive started at 2 o’clock on Monday morning, the New Zealanders and the South Africans had carried out simultaneous raids in their respective sectors. Both were highly successful. Between the All Black and _ the Springbok troops were the Indians, who were heavily attacked by rhe Germans. The New Zealanders could hear that a battle was raging in the night, but no attempt was made by the Axis forces to punch a gap through the New Zealand defences. Prisoners Taken.

The New Zealanders had earlier carried out their raid with complete success, and brought back prisoners. Again on Monday night, while Rommel’s panzers were moving round far below the New Zealand positions to the southeast, the New Zealanders carried out another devastating night raid. They did all they intended to do —and they brought back no prisoners. Up further north, the Australians and South Africans had also carried out raids. The Australians brought back 100 prisoners and the South Africans brought back 12.

ACCURATE SHOOTING N.Z. Gunners Destroy Several Tanks

(Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) WESTERN DESERT, Sept.' 3.

The New Zealand guns yesterday accounted for several enemy tanks. Our artillery scored direct hits on two heavy tanks, and a third which was damaged withdrew smoking and was later seen to burst into flames. The six-pounder anti-tank guns, which engaged the enemy at a range of 1000 yards, destroyed two Italian medium tanks, both of which burst into flames. In spite of a duet storm, New Zealand anti-aircraft batteries brought down two Messerschmitt 109’s. Several others were seen to be damaged. Patrols were' again in close contact with the enemy during the night, one returning with a few German prisoners. There have 'been exchanges of mortar fire along 'the front and shelling, but the consequences here are negligible.

TEN PLANES IN THREE DAYS Axis Loss Over N.Z. Lines (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.12.F.)

WESTERN DESERT, September 3. Six Junkers SS’s ventured fairly low over the New Zealand lines early yesterday afternoon after dropping bombs somewhere in the rear. ' Only three of them reached the enemy lines, one being obviously damaged. The others were brought down by our A.A. guns, making a total of 10 planes destroyed in three days. Several of the planes’ crews parachuted and were captured.

One plane made a spectacular effort to get away after being hit. It skimmed the ground for a considerable distance, leaving a train of smoke, but crashed in flames in a forward position. A reconnaissance patrol which went out last night engaged an enemy working party. Other patrols performpd tasks without incident. LULL STILL UNBROKEN LONDON, September 4. Reports from Egypt today indicate that the two-day lull ou the El Ahimein front is still unbroken. Apparently the enemy has drawn back after having been 'heavily plastered by our artillery. Correspondents yesterday _ said that operations in Egypt had again returned to the level of patrol actions. The Al’rika Korps remained essentially in the neighbourhood it reached on the afternoon o£ August 31 (north-east of El Himeimat), and there had been no German backward movement.

A correspondent of the British United Press with the Eighth Army

said that the 15th and 21st German Tank Divisions suffered heavy losses in the recent fighting, and that tiie German tank losses were at least three times ns large as Hie British.

ENEMY BOMBS ON HAIFA (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 3. Enemy aircraft dropped a few bombs on the outskirts of Haifa, the seaport of Palestine, tins morning, causing slight damage to private property, says a Jerusalem message. There were no casualties.