GERMANS DROP LEAFLETS

Southland Times, Issue 24832, 26 August 1942, Page 5

GERMANS DROP LEAFLETS

N.Z. TROOPS AMUSED

(Official War Correspondent,N.Z.EJ5 1 .) WESTERN DESERT, August 23. Leaflets have been dropped high over the New Zealand lines from German planes during the last two evenings. The wind carried most of them miles away, but those which reach the mark are highly prized as souvenirs. They are addressed “Men of New Zealand and consist mostly of a tiraade against the English and claim German successes. On the reverse side is a fair representation of a kiwi among mountain palms. I have watched several groups of soldiers reading them and have wished the perpetrator was there to see the effect. He would not waste paper or petrol if he could hear the New Zealander’s derisive remarks. The leaflets were a welcome change from bombs, none of which has fallen for several Well forward in the New Zealand positions is a captured Italian 75-milli-metre gun, which Maori infantrymen are using daily with success against the enemy. “Hey, digger, how you use this thing?" the Maoris asked artillerymen when first attracted by the gun’s possibilities. The gun was without sights, so the artillerymen suggested that they should aim it by looking through the barrel. The Maoris did not know how to open the breach, ana when this was explained they were left to their own devices. Much to everybody’s amazement, soon afterwards the gun was firdd and has continued to fire at intervals ever since. The Maoris’ methods show a total disregard for almost all the principles of artillery fire. A shell is just shoved into the breech without being rammed home, a few handfuls of cordite are placed in the cartridge case, and when this is in position and the breech closed the gun is ready to fire. With a long length of telephone wire attached to the trigger, the Maoris retire to slit trenches. A sharp tug on the wire and the gun fires. If the range is short an extra handful of cordite is added to the next charge; if it is too long the charge is reduced. By this method the Maoris have harassed the enemy in forward positions at a range of about 1000 yards.