N.Z. ATTACK

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 291, 7 September 1942, Page 5

N.Z. ATTACK

Many Prisoners Captured

(Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) WESTERN DESERT, Sept. 4. New Zealand troops last night attacked to the south. In spite of stiff resistance, a large number of prisoners was captured, most of them Italians.

Protected on their eastern flank by minefields laid before taking tip their positions here, the Maoris and men of the Auckland Battalion reached their objective and withdrew to a more favourable locality after inflicting many casualties with small loss to themselves. Though faced with mortar, light anti-tank and machinegun fire, the forward troops advanced some distance.

The New Zealand troops also attacked further to the west, where the South Islanders improved their positions. Other units raided in force and returned with prisoners. One of these consisting of men of the Auckland Battalion advanced about 2000 yards in 20 minutes, in spite of grenade and mortar opposition, captured many prisoners and returned almost without loss. A smaller number of men from the Wellington Battalion went forward firing from tho hip through a heavy fall of mortar shells. The major attack was a silent one, but artillery support was given later as required. Throughout the night, the New Zealand lines were subjected to bombing and strafing by enemy planes, but there were only a few casualties. The planes performed almost every form of devilry at their disposal. By tho light of hundreds of Hares, they dived with screamers open, dropped “butterfly” and other anti-personnel bombs by the score and strafed at random. There were further ineffective raids later this morning, one being by a large formation of stukas. DISMAL FAILURE Italian Commando Raid (Received September 0, 10.30 p.m.) CAIRO, September 5. The first Axis commando landing in the Western Desert did not meet with conspicuous success. An Italian officer and 13 rankers landed from a small boat behind the Allied lino. They were armed to the teeth with tommy* guns, sacks of dynamite and grenades. They landed at night time and tried to blow up the railway line to the front. The Italians waited while four army trains ran over the charges of explosives they had placed on the line, but the charges failed to explode.. Meanwhile, the Italian landing craft had been discovered and patrols sent out. Four Tommies armed only with automatic pistols, eventually discovered the Italians glumly , seated round a table in a hut. The Italians gave no suggestion of opposition and meekly trudged to tho prison camp.

FIVE DIVISIONS USED Estimate Of Axis Forces In Latest Fighting LONDON, September C. Correspondents describe the enemy claim that the recent action in Egypt was merely a reconnaissance in force as “bunk and balderdash.” One correspondent says that the enemy used three German and two Italian divisions for the offensive, and there is plenty of evidence It was the real tiling. One thing supporting this is the fact that Germany’s newest tanks were thrown in. Some which were captured were so new they were not even scratched, and their fixtures were still covered with their wrappings.