SURPRISE ENTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 November 1941, Page 5

SURPRISE ENTRY

NEW ZEALAND ATTACK ON OAMBUT ■ V LORRY LOADS OF GERMANS FOUND ASLEEP. SOME HARD AND HEAVY FIGHTING. CAIRO, November 27. A New Zealender, describing the operations which led to the capture of Gambut aerodrome, says: “We advanced in the night and found four lorryloads of Germans asleep without a sentry, and we captured them all. Then the Germans brought up 17 motorcars filled with men armed with tommy-guns, and our tanks knocked out 11 of the cars. The Germans keep on firing till you are within 10 yards and then put up their hands. They will not face the bayonet.” A New Zealand company commander described the capture of a series of enemy fortifications. “Out tanks were advancing to mop up machinegun posts'which were cleverly hidden on a ridge,” he said. “Suddenly a terrific artillery barrage opened up on cur flank, and under the cover of tanks the Germans began to advance. A strong wind whipped up the dust from the tanks into a sandstorm, and all we could see through the haze were sharp flashes of guns. “It seemed a good time to advance; we fixed bayonets and in single file a few paces apart went through the melee. The huge shapes of tanks loomed up through the storm, but there was no knowing whose tanks they were. •They opened fire and hit some of our boys, but we finally reached the ridge, spread out and stormed the positions. We took those Jerries by surprise; they did not see us till we were on top of them. “We captured the position, but we had a bad moment when the Jerry tanks broke off the battle and came charging through the positions we were holding, but apparently they did not know what was happening or were.too busy retreating, because they did not stop. We captured 280 Germans and killed and wounded 110.” ENEMY DRAWN INTO TRAP. Reuter’s correspondent, describing a tank battle near Sidi Omar on November 24, says: “Our light tanks, after engaging between 30 and 40 German tanks, drew them into a heavily mined area where our anti-tank guns and 25pounders, ingeniously camouflaged, were all ready to open fire from close range. “The Germans came on full tilt but, seeing that they were outgunned, quickly made off westward in single file, with our shells crashing among them. After the smoke cleared wc found 18 tanks knocked out. “As the remainder were withdrawing our aircraft dive-bombed them, causing further destruction. "Italians were found inside some of the tanks and they declared that all had agreed to surrender as soon as J they found the British. “Other Italian prisoners had com-

plained that they had had only a cupful of water apiece for three days and very little food. Italian gunners shelling from nearby positions, signified their desire to surrender, but German machine-gunners behind them opened fired when they attempted to reach the British lines.