DESERT TRAINING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1942, Page 4

DESERT TRAINING

THE NEW ZEALAND DIVISION NIGHT BATTLE PRACTICE. MAORIS AS SPEARHEAD’. (From the N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) CAIRO, January 22. Rested by the shores of the Mediterranean after the strenuous Libyan campaign, the New Zealand Division is now engaged in, a solid training programme in preparation for the next action, wherever it may be. Leave for those who fought in Libya continues, but only a small percentage are allowed away from their units a.t the same time. Three New Zealand infantry brigades ► with attached troops—artillery, mach- ' ine-gun, anti-tank, anti-aircraft and engineers—are at present separated and located at three different camps in the Middle East. This week I spent a few days with the Fifth Brigade, now commanded by the former South Island battalion commander, Brigadier Kippenberger. . I watched the clim ax °f intensive training—combined night operations. Plans were made for brigade manoeuvres in collaboration with the Royal Navy and the R.A.F. The brigade was to cross an intensive lake aad attack an enemy who was coming from the direction of Port Said. The spearhead of the attack was to be the Maori battalion, a role which they played brilliantly, in the grim attack on Gazala. They were to be supported by the 23rd South Island Battalion, with the 21st Auckland Battalion in reserve. Reveille was set down at 3 a.m. In order to watch the main phase of these operations, I attached myself to a forward platoon of a forward company. THE NAVY TAKES PART. Through the biting cold of a desert night, made black by the absence of moon and stars, the brigade marched three miles to the edge of the lake. With customary efficiency the troops embarked by the navy on small high-powered craft, stole swiftly and silently across the calm waters of the lake. Overhead a Wellington bomber roared, its tiny lights on the wing-tips appearing spasmodicaly through lowlying clouds. Not a light showed from the naval craft, and not a word came from the men as the landed on the furthermost shores of this great desert lake. “Two hundred and twelve degrees eleven hundred paces,” was the only word of command from the company commander as he gave compass bearing and distance to the officer who was to guide the forward company. Through the blackness, stumbling over dessert tussocks, moved the silent brigade, with the forward company extended in line formation. All the time the Wellington bomber circled overhead, giving essential air support. Half an hour later the brigade was in position ready for the attack. Weapon pits had been dug, artillrey, machineguns, anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns had been sited. BOMBING AT DAWN. When the first furtive streaks of dawn started to filter through the eastern sky, a small flight of bombers started a relentless onslaught on the enemy positions. Troops, steel-helmeted, their heads and shoulders silhouetted against the blood-red sky, crouched in their trenches and watched the spectacular dive-bombing of the R.A.F. Bombs crashed on the wadi out in front. The rat-tat of machine-guns broke through the stillness as the planes came out of their dive. “Enemy” anti-aircraft guns barked. Behind, parachute flares drifted lazily to the ground through banks of clouds. Tiny bright lights dropped from the planes as they circled once more and raced away behind the lines. At dawn the attack was over. The enemy had been routed.