THE NEW ZEALANDERS' PART

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

THE NEW ZEALANDERS ' PART

INTERESTING SIDELIGHTS FURTHER MAORI EXPLOITS (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) (Rec. 12.35 p.m.) WESTERN DESERT, Sept. 5. Several determined attacks by German and Italian infantry, in one case with strong tank support, were repelled by the New Zealand troops yesterday afternoon. The first attack came at about 1 o’clock, when men of the Wellington Battalion saw advancing on them a large body of infantry, accompanied by 15 medium Italian tanks. All except four of the tanks remained in a depression, while the others went forward with the infantry, their guns blazing furiously. The enemy was supported by heavy artillery and mortar fire. Then the New Zealand guns came into action with a terrific barrage of such accuracy that the enemy’s supporting troops and armour were forced to disperse. For 20 minutes our artillery rained shells among the enemy and afterwards continued to harass him. Meanwhile forward enemy troops who had advanced to within about 300 yards of our lines were hotly engaged with machine-gun and small-arms fire. Four tanks were, halted, but the crews were sniping until they were killed and the tanks destroyed by anti-tank fire. The attack was a complete failure, and within half an hour those left of the enemy withdrew. ' , , Only a few hours later an advance by enemy tanks, armoured cars, and infantry was broken up by heavy artillery fire before it had progressed far, and efforts from that direction were not repeated. Further to the west attempts were made to rush positions held by a South Island battalion, without success. The enemy advanced to close quarters, but fell back in the face of heavy fire. _ Last night was fairly quiet, but this morning our forward positions are being shelled consistently, with little effect. Air raids have continued, but on a greatly-reduced scale. Crouching low and moving silently, the Maoris who participated in Thursday night’s attack caused havoc among the enemy when they sprang among them in thfeir weapon pits. Those Italians who had time to surrender did so with alacrity, but the Germans resisted until they were killed or captured. The casualties inflicted on the enemy are now known to be much heavier than was at first thought. A captured 88 millimetre was used by a Maori sergeant from North Auckland to knock out a machine-gun post and destroy transport. An Italian 47 millimetre was operated by a corporal with equal success. During the height of the battle a transport officer driving a truck was stopped by the command ‘Hands up!” delivered in what was obviously a foreign accent. ‘ Hands up yourself 1” yelled the officer, and was surprised when immediately a number of Italians came forward unarmed, and, without bidding, climbed into the back of the truck to be taken off as prisoners. Two Maoris who had been cut off remained hidden throughout yesterday, and last night blazed their way out with Bren guns, reaching their own lines in safety.

ENEMY'S HEAVY CASUALTIES SOUTH ISLANDERS' IMPROVED POSITION (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent;) WESTERN"dESERT, Sept. 4. New Zealand troops last _ night attacked to the south. In spite of stiff resistance, a large number of prisoners were captured, most of them being Italians. Protected on the eastern flank by minefields laid before taking up their positions here, 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. Although faced with mortar, light anti-tank, and machine-gun 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 2,000 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 the 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 wore 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 the light of hundreds of flares 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. The Australians on the night of September 3 continued their raids in the coastal region, stealing up on an Axis post armed with bayonets, tommy-guns, and mortars. Prisoners admit that this type of raid terrifies the Germans and Italians alike.

MORE MATERIAL NEEDED MR WENDELL WILLKIE'S IMPRESSIONS (Bee. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 6. Mr Wendell Willkie, after a tour of tlie battlefront, said: “The happenings hero of the past two or three days are significant, perhaps _ the turning point of the war. I think the Boche has been stopped. The battlefield is an object lesson in the necessity for more material. I wish every American was with me so that he could be inspired to put forward the . extra energy to provide what is needed. Not enough material has been sent to Egypt, which is one of the most vital battle zones. Think of what could be done with just a few more tanks, planes, and guns! I have spoken to representatives of the Allies in the desert. Their tails are high." Mr Willkie experienced two air raids in the desert, one as he slept at General Montgomery’s secret headquarters and another when going to the front today. . FILIPINOS STILL FIGHTING WASHINGTON, Sept. 5. _ The Rome radio reported that Filipino soldiers are still fighting the Japanese. Romo quoted the Japanese commander in the Philippines, Lieu-tenant-general Tanka, as saying that some areas in the Philippines are still pestered by small groups of Filipino soldiers.