Raid on Italian Lines

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 205, 28 August 1942, Page 5

Raid on Italian Lines

(Official War Correspondent.) WESTERN DESERT, Aug. 26. The Maori Battalion early this morning shattered the "lull" on the El Alamein front with an attack on two companies of Italians occupying a strong strategic position off the western end of ltuweisat Ridge. The New Zealand artillery paved the way with a barrage of over 3000 rounds in ten minutes, concenti-ated on an area of 1500 square yards. The Maoris returned to their lines as planned, with a good haul of prisoners. Their casualties were very light. The attack was made after careful and daring reconnaissance. One of these was made by a colonel the previous night, when lie penetrated a wire just outside me enemy positions. Prompt# at 4 o’clock this morning, the Maoris set out from their starting line in a northerly direction under cover of what was probably the heaviest artillery fire this campaign has known. Their advance was xrom SOO to IUOO yards with two companies, the third company being in i*eserve. By the time the ten-minute barrage had ended with two smoke shells xrom each gun, the Maoris had passed through a minefield and a wire and were on their objective. The engineers had blown gaps in the wire and searched the ground for anti-personnel mines. Tne xtalians were e.ther dazed or in utter contusion—dazed by the tremendous weight of our artillery fire and contused uy tne spectacle of yening Maoris in their midst wxth bayonets and tommy-guns, i/iiey made a poor fight of it, and the escarpment on which they had their pusixidns nad been compieceiy cleared Wnen the signal was given at 4.35 a.m. xor withdrawal. Our guns had continued io fire througnout the operation on areas *n the vicinity. "I followed the night’s activities in the company of the brigadier from Kangioia who has the Maori Battalion under his command. Early in the evening 1 heard me plan of attack explained to the coionei of another bat canon. "1 reckon it will snake them to their back teeth," ne said upon hearing the extent of the artillery barrage. "You wont know what s going to happen in the battle,’ was the brigadier s cautious repiy. •vvnatever happens, we will have got m first.”

Later General Freyberg arrived with the new corps commander and set off for the Maoris' lines. They visited one ol tne companies, the corps commander saymg to tne Maori Battalion on its return, a line your men—l found them all smiles and in great heart. Brilliant moonlight had been dulled by a cloudy sky when the troops moved to me assembly point at 2 o’clock. The omy sound was the distant thud of artillery fire further north. Une of the faithxuf .Wellington bombers, clearly outlined against the sky, passed overhead from its task, while ambulances were in readiness. A coionei with a tommy-gun slung over his shoulder checked 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. The angry snarl of a distant macnine-gun burst brought a remark from one, "that’s your last, boy." The men had had explained to them by tueir colonel carefully and in detail the Pxans of the attack.

The troops moved to the starting line. At 4 o'clock to the second, the quiet was rent by a mast of artillery fire, a seemingly enuless stream of shells screamed overhead. . The tetrific din was punctuated by even more deafening expxosions as the shells found their mark. The spraying sparks of the exploding sheas ■snowed that the troops had readied the Wire. The artillery are continued to be neavy, but notning iiae those tremendous ten minutes. The rattle of small arms are was heard intermittently.

Withdrawal signals snot into the air and wo waited expectantly. At 4.40 a.m. me shelling ceased, but enemy mortar uro lexl harmlessly on their own counteroffensive lines. Aiexore long, tne Maoris nad returned with prisoners. One oificer said, "There was no need for smoke—tije dust from the shelling was thick enough." "If only we had had sheepdogs, we could have rounded them all up," said another. Mortar fire had been encountered from positions behind the abjective, but It was not serious, and only a few machine-gun posts opened up uurxng tne auvauce. rue engineers destroyed numerous smaii-ealibre guns.