NIGHT OF STERN FIGHTING

Southland Times, Issue 24885, 27 October 1942, Page 5

NIGHT OF STERN FIGHTING

TROOPS CONSOLIDATE POSITIONS (Official War Correspondent.) EL ALAMEIN FRONT, Oct. 24. Following a night of stem fighting the main body of the New Zealand forces engaged in the great desert battle took its objectives early this morning and is consolidating its positions. One formation which encountered exceptionally strong mortar and machinegun opposition has yet to complete its advance, but is well within reach of its goal. The New Zealand artillery took a large part in the terrific barrage which preceded the infantry attack and continued throughout the night with unabated intensity. The objective of our troops was a ridge which was stormed in two phases. The enemy facing them was the Italian Trento and the German 164th Divisions. The whole attack was carried through under the light of a brilliant moon.

The troops were already at the assembly point when the shattering artillery fire which preceded the advance by half-an-hour pounded the enemy positions. At 10 o’clock the two formations required to take the first objective moved forward. It was not long before the crash of mortar fire and the bark of machine-guns told that the enemy positions had been closely approached, but almost equally soon a series of spectacular explosions showed that the New Zealand sappers were at work blowing a path through the enemy wire. It had been no easy task for the engineers under heavy enemy fire. STRONG GERMAN RESISTANCE By midnight the forward formations had established themselves on their objectives. The positions had been held by Germans, who had put up a strong resistance, despite the hammering by artillery fire. Batches of prisoners, the first of many that were to be taken during the night, were despatched to the rear. There followed a pause while the starting line was established for v the greater body of troops faced with the task of taking the second objective—the ridge itself. The artillery continued its relentless hail of shells. Advancing through the posit'ions captured the second body of New Zealanders went forward to the attack. They responded fiercely. Prisoners were captured and they went on and long before dawn all except one formation were installed on the western side of the ridge. The troops on the left flank later this morning are still endeavouring to subdue strong pockets of machine-gunners which, with mortars, are hindering the advance. Our guns received little return fire from the enemy artillery. N.Z. SOLDIERS READY REHEARSAL WITH TANKS (Official War Correspondent) WESTERN DESERT, October 17. Strongei- in gun-power than any Axis infantry division, the New Zealand desert force which LieutenantGeneral B. L. Montgomery, commander of the Bth Army, described as a division equal to any in the world, has been prepared in weeks of training. For the first time in their history the New Zealanders have rehearsed with tank support every phase of their attack. Three months after the epic battle of Minqar Qaim, below Mersa Matruh, which began the New Zealanders’ second desert campaign, they were withdrawn from the front line. They had dealt a decisive blow against the Axis advance and had taken part in the major offensive defensive actions in the Alamein line. Fresh units came to replace them and in long night convoys our men left their trenches and gun-pits for a brief, well-earned rest in quiet back areas. Camps were built along the white sand ridges on the Mediterranean coast, where our. men rested or went on leave to Cairo or Alexandria.

A few days later they were back in the desert. In the broad rocky areas behind the line they began intensive training for a mobile offensive. Infantrymen were hardened with route marches after their comparatively inactive weeks in the static front line. Guns and machine-guns were prepared for more heavy barrages. Miles of rock ridges and soft sand separated the New Zealand units, but one rumour spread from, platoon to platoon, from gun to gun—we had been given tanks. On night manoeuvres, when an advance under a creeping barrage was rehearsed, we saw them—scores of them with the New Zealanders’ white fem leaf insignia. In a dozen English dialects we heard the Tommies’ enthusiasm to be “with the Kiwis.” Some of the tank crews had been with the New Zealanders before —with our 4th Brigade on Crete and with the sth Brigade in their attack on Malemi aerodrome. Others had fought through the first Libyan campaign from the battles near Sidi Barrani to the attack which cut off the Italian retreat at Beda Fomm. Some were in the Tobruk garrison. A few. days later Lieutenant-General Montgomery spent a day with the New Zealanders. It was then he told them that in the next round of the battle he had a big task for the New Zealanders and he added that in their reorganized formation they would have the best equipment available.

ARMY’S STIFF TASK Grand Strategic Object (Rec. 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, October 25. The Times, in a leading article, says: “The task before the Sth Army is very stiff. What is it? The aim must be to inflict a crushing defeat upon the enemy’s army and obtain possession of all the North African bases on which it depends or may depend. Upon this is founded the grand strategic object of clearing the southern shore of the Mediterranean for purposes which are concerned with the naval, military and air forces and their communications. It may be accepted that we are not witnessing only an attempt to improve the still-perilous position in which a hostile army is lying all too close to the desert boundary. The play is for bigger stakes and those responsible for plannnig the offensive have no doubt conceived it as extending to a succession of objectives.” The Daily Express says: “With the attack of the Bth Army the highlights of the news in the last few weeks begin to fall into their places in the general picture. We can see the links that run from the heavy enemy blitz on Malta to our concentrated attacks on Tobruk and other German supply ports, also to the daylight air attack on Milan, the occupation of Liberia by the Americans and the alarm spread from Nazi sources about Dakar. One of the first aims of the new battle for Egypt must be to secure more air bases on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, from which we can make the sea safe for our ships. The second aim must always be to put ever bigger obstacles between the Germans and the Middle East oil. Ribbentrop likened Britain to an aircraftcarrier. From this carrier we send striking forces over great distances to Italian cities. This really is a direct strategic aid in the Battle for Egypt. It is the biggest scale war by land, sea and air. The communiques are wisely cautious.” The Daily Mail says: The relief with which the announcement of the attack has been received is a measure of the strain imposed on the people by the long months of military inactivity. This British offensive is on the greatest scale yet. Complete success now would

mean clearing North Africa of the enemy and opening up the Mediterranean to our fleet. The forces which the Bth Army are engaging are stronger than ever. It would be unfair to the officers and men not to recognize the magnitude of their task.”