BATTLE PRACTICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1942, Page 2

BATTLE PRACTICE

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS IN SYRIA ATTACK ON MOUNTAIN DEFENCES. ON DAY OF ICY WIND AND RAIN. (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) BEIRUT, Maq 22'. With pack guns, mortars and Bren-earriers, New Zealanders, representing German mountain troops, today attacked New Zealand defences somewhere in the hills in Syria, in the first mountain manoeuvres the Division has undertaken overseas. The umpires awarded the day to the defenders, a Hawke’s Bay Company. Dark clouds were rolling over the peaks and icy winds swept drifts of rain down the slopes as the attackers, in shirts, shorts and greatcoats, moved into position ready to advance. The mules of an Indian mountain battery stood quietly under stunted cedars. The infantry crouched between rocks for shelter. The attack orders were given by an Auckland colonel in sight of the defenders’ lines and Avere quickly passed on. The mule teams ran forward and two minutes later the guns were registering' on the targets. Scouting carriers shot up two defending patrols and preceded the infantry across the scrub and tussock-covered hillsides. The forward radios reported weakly held points, and as the infantry sections thrust up gullies and over saddles, mortars in the carriers went into action and mountain guns moved up closer in support. With machine-gun fire and sharp rushes, the defenders were forced from their outposts and fell back on their main defences. The attackers SAvept on and cleared these also, but the umpires ruled that they had been wiped out and the day ended with the defences intact.