MAJOR INFANTRY CLASH

Evening Star, Issue 24293, 7 September 1942, Page 3

MAJOR INFANTRY CLASH

NEW ZEALANDERS PUNISH GERMANS MACHINE-GUNS AND BAYONETS USED LONDON, September 5. The operation by the New Zealanders on Thursday is described as the first major infantry clash on the Alamein front. They are at present holding positions seriously threatening enemy concentrations. The Germans strove desperately to regain the captured ground. At first they heavily attacked from the west, but were thrown. back by a terrific artillery barrage. Second and third attacks, which were. even more intense, came from the south and the south-west. Tho German ranks were repeatedly thinned out by heavy artillery fire, but reinforcements , were brought up. The Germans, who wanted to penetrate the barrage, went down Hko wheat before the scythe under the fire of New Zealand machine gunners. Tho New Zealanders then charged with the bayonet on the remnants of the Germans, who finally fell back after the fiercest hand-to-hand fighting. The battlefield was strewn with German dead and wounded.

Messages from Cairo say that the fighting on Saturday continued to move to the west, and it has been ascertained that the enemy is withdrawing portion of the material which he massed in the southern sector. The enemy’s losses in tanks and motor transport as the result of our bombardments were given an important fillip on Friday night when R.A.F. and African medium bombers, supported by naval planes, dealt a series of devastating blows on enemy concentrations. \ One concentration is described as a shambles, one large area being covered with burning and wrecked vehicles. The enemy frantically dispersed the remainder. Captured material, including guns, tanks, and anti-tank weapons, is piling up within the Allied lines. The military correspondent of the Press Association says the Axis is attempting to build up the impression that the attack in the Western Desert was no more than a reconnaissance in force, whereas the whole of the enemy armoured forces attacked our southern flank. The Allied losses were comparatively light, but the enemy losses in men and material were severe. The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says the German tank losses in last week’s fighting can be described as “ greater than we dreamed.” The enemy’s heaviest casualties were inflicted on September 2 and' 3, when the Allied artillery firo was on a scale unprecedented in desert warfare. The enemy threw. in three German and two Italian divisions, and there was plenty of evidence to suggest that it was the “ real show.” Moreover, the Germans were also using their latest type of tanks. Other despatches commenting on the German attempts to minimise the operations say that the enemy was thrown back after five days of severe fighting, and he failed to enter our main defence position anywhere, in spite of making every effort to do so. Fourteen Italian marines who landed from a boat behind the lines surrendered on meeting British troops.

NOT A SUCCESS ITALIANS AS COMMANDO TROOPS CAIRO, September 5. The first Axis commando landing in the Western Desert did not meet with conspicuous success. An Italian officer and 13 soldiers landed from a small boat behind the Allied line. They were armed to the teeth with tommy-guns and sacks of dynamite and grenades. They landed at night-time and tried to blow up a railway line to the front. The Italians waited while four Army trains ran over the charges of explosives they placed on the line, but the charges failed to explode. Meanwhile the Italian landing craft was discovered and patrols, were sent out. Our 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, but meekly trudged to a prison camp. •