Heavy artillery fire paves the way.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1942, Page 4

Heavy artillery fire paves the way.

N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.

Rec. 6.15 p.m. Western Desert, Aug. 26. The Maori Battalion early this morning shattered the luil on the El Alamein front with an attack on two companies of Italians occupying a strong strategic position off the western end of Ruweisak Ridge. The New Zealand artillery paved the way with a barrage of more than 3000 rounds in 10 minutes concentrated on an area of 1500 yards. The Maoris returned to their li'nes as planned with a good haul 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 coromandel", a colonel, in the previous night, when he penetrated the wire just outside the enemy positions. Promptly at 4 o'clock this morning the Maoris set out from the starting line in a northerly direction under cover of what was probably the heaviest artillery fire this campaign has known. Their advance was from 800 to 1000 yards with two companies, a third company being in reserve. By the time the 10-minute barrage had ended With two smoke shells from each gun. the Maoris had passed through the minefield and wire and were on the objective. Engineers had blown gaps in the wire and searched the ground for anti-personnel mines. Poor Fight. The Italians were either dazed or in utter confusion — dazed by the tremendous weight of our artillery fire, and confused by the 6pectacle of yelling Maoris in their midst with bayonets and tommy-guns. They made a poor fight of it and the escarpement on which they had positions had been completely cleared when the signal was given at 4.35 a.m. for the withdrawal. Our guns continued to fire throughout the operation on areas in the vicinity. , I followed the night's activities in company with a brigadier from Rangiora who has the Maori Battalion under his command. Early in the evening I heard the plan of attack explained to a 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's going to happen in the battle " was the brigadier's cautious reply. "Whatever happens, we will have got in first." Later Lieut.-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C., arrived with a new corps commander and set out for the Maoris' lines. They vis'ited one of the companv's corps, the commander saying to the Maori battalion on his return, "I like your men— I found them all smiles and in great heart." Troops Move to Assembly Point. Brilliant moonlight had been dulled by a cloudy sky when the troops moved to the assembly point at 2 o'clock. The only sound was the distant thud of artillery fire further north. One of the faithful Wellington bombers, elearly outlined against the sky, passed overhead from its task. Ambulances were in readiness. The colonel, with a tommygun slung over his shoulder, checked details with the officers, and 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 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, 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 shells found their mark. Spraying sparks and exploding shells showed the troops had reached the wire. Artillery fire continued to be heavy, but nothing like that of the tremendous 10 minutes. The rattle of small arms fire was heard intermittently. Withdrawal signals were shot into the air and we waited expectantly. At 4.40 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 sheepdogs 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 few machine-gun posts opened up during the advance. Engineers destroyed numerous small-calibre guns.