MAORIS' FEAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20874, 28 August 1942, Page 3

MAORIS' FEAT

ROUT OF ITALIANS MOONLIGHT RAID TERRIFIC^ 3 arr age: WELL-PLANNED ACTION (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) (8 ajn.) WESTERN DESERT, Aug. 517. The'Maori Battalion early yesterday morning shattered the “lull” on the Alamein front with an attack on two companies of Italians occupying a strong strategic position off the western end of Ruweisat Ridge. New Zealand artillery paved the way with a barrage of over 3000 rounds in 10 minutes. The Maoris returned to their lines as planned with a good load 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 the previous night, when he penetrated the wire just outside the enemy positions. Promptly at 4 o’clock in the morning the Maoris set out from the starting line in a northerly direction under the 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 for each gun, the Maoris had passed through the minefield and wire and were on t.n.e objective. Engineers had blown gaps in the wire and Searched the ground for anti-personnel mines. Italians Dazed 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 Tommy-guns. They made a poor fight of it and the eseaip<ment 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 the company of a brigadier from Rangiora who has the Maori Battalion under his command. Early in the evening l 1 heard the plan of attack explained to the colonel of another battalion. “I reckon it will shake them to the back teeth,” he said, upon hearing the extent of the artillery barrage. “You don’t know what is 'going to happen in battle,” was the brigadier’s cautious reply. “Whatever happens, we will have got in first.” Later, General Sir Bernard Freyberg arrived with a new corps commander and set out for the Maoris' 1 lines. They visited one company’s corps commander, saying to the Maori battalion on his return: “I like your men—l found them all smiles and in great heart.” Men in Splendid Form The brilliant moonlight had been dulled by a cloudy sky when the troops moved to the assembly poinl 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 ta.sk. Ambulances were in readiness. The colonel, with a Tommy-gun slung over his shoulder, checked the details with his officers while the brigadier walked among the men. The men were in splendid form — cheery and unconcerned. One group softly . hummed a tune. There was many a subdued laugh. An angry snarl of a distant machine-gun burst brought the remark from one, “That’s your last, boy.” The men had had explained to them by their colonel carefully and in detail the plans of the attack. The troops moved to the starting line. At 4 o’clock to the second, the •quiet was rent by a blast of artillery fire. 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, the exploding shells showed that the troops had reached the wire. The artillery fire continued to be heavy, but nothing like those tremendous 10 minutes. The rattle of small arms fire was heard intermittently. Sheep Dogs Needed

Withdrawal signals shot into the air and we waited expectantly. At 4.41 a.m., the shelling ceased, but enemy mortar fire fell harmlessly on their own counter-offensive lines. Before long the Maoris had returned with prisoners. Said one officer: “There was no need for smoke—the dust from the shelling was thick enough.” “If only we had had sheep dogs 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 :l!ew machine-gun posts opened up during the advance. The engineers destroyed numerous small calibre guns. Another correspondent says that the attack, which is better described as a raid, was against a strongly-held Italian position at El Marier, just south-west of Ruweisat Ridge. The Maoris went in with fixed bayonets and withdrew after barely an hour’s grim fighting, bringing back more than 30 prisoners. Their own casualties were very light.