“BUSH ARTILLERY”
GOOD WORK AT TOBRUK
EFFICIENT USE OF CAPTURED GUNS.
UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS
(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) CAIRO August 14.
Beginning humbly with the effort of two Queensland sappers in firing a captured Italian gun, the Tobruk “bush artillery” has become a definite feature of the military activity in the fortress, writes the Australian official war correspondent. Manning several varieties of Italian guns the untrained crews have become quite efficient in the science of gunnery in spite of the primitive methods of aiming and ranging that must be used.
The “bush artillery" is stationed, well forward in the perimeter of the defences. and the guns are generally aimed by one member of the crew standing about 15 yards behind the gun and taking a sight on the area to be plastered. His comrades manhandle their gun in the direction ho indicates, and generally their ranging shots are wide, but they soon get on the target. Enemy guns have made a number of attempts to put them out of action, with no success. These Australianmanned guns have become well-known throughout the garrison and it has become quite frequent for the commanders of British batteries when asked for support to answer “that will be a job for the bush artillery.” Through the call goes, and the men rush to their guns.
VARIETY OF UNITS
TOKEN OF AUSTRALIA'S DETERMINATION.
RESISTANCE TO ANY AGGRESSION
(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, August 15
The convoy from Australia conveyed thousands of troops to Singapore-—in-fantry, artillery. Army Service Corps, engineers, and ambulance units. There were also Bren-gun carriers, anti-tank guns and motor transport. Informed quarters in Singapore comment that these men are a token of Australia's determination to treat Singapore as a first line of defence and a warning that Britain and Australia, with their allies in the Pacific, are committed to an inflexible policy of resisting any attempt on the part of any power to interfere with the freedom of the peoples living in this area.
NIGHT SURPRISE
SPRUNG BY TOBRUK GARRISON.
ENEMY DETACHMENT ANNIHILATED.
(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, August- 15.
British headquarters in Cairo report: “During the night of August 13, a fighting patrol from Tobruk surprised an enemy strong point, killing the entire garrison of twelve. Following up this success, the patrol penetrated still further and engaged strong working parties of the enemy with grenades and light machine-gun fire.
“In other sectors >our artillery brought heavy and effective fire to bear on two other working parties of the enemy. Although heavy dust storms yesterday interfered with our movements outside Tobruk, our patrols were again active in the frontier area.”
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 August 1941, Page 5
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443“BUSH ARTILLERY” Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 August 1941, Page 5
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