IN GREAT HEART

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1942, Page 3

IN GREAT HEART

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS WANT TO ATTACK & KEEP ON. NOW IN FOREFRONT OF BATTLE. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, July 1. New Zealand troops are in the forefront of the great battle for Egypt which started at Alamein today. No details of the type of action in which the New Zealanders are engaged are available in Cairo tonight. Since their brilliant withdrawal from the area south of Mersa Matruh on Saturday night, when they fought their way out with a spectacular bayonet charge, the New Zealanders have not been in action. It is known that strong enemy forces had ranged themselves opposite the New Zealand positions last night, but it is not known whether the New Zealanders are engaged in action. Solid and well-equipped battle groups of New Zealanders took up strong positions well known to them when they withdrew after their determined and effective crash through the German ring in the early hours of Sunday morning. Preliminary work on the positions they now hold was carried out by the New Zealanders a long time ago. New Zealand casualties in Saturday’s dramatic action are believed to have been fairly light. Men wounded during an enemy bombing raid on Friday night, and others wounded in the course of Saturday’s action when the New Zealanders were five times attacked by panzers, have reached the New Zealand Base Hospital. They tell thrilling stories of the hammering the New Zealanders’ 25-pounders and sixpounder anti-tank guns gave the 21st Panzer Division. They said the troops were bitterly disappointed when, around midnight, orders came for withdrawing. One wounded officer said. “The boys want to attack and to keep on attacking. They are in great heart and have never been fitter.” New Zealand battle groups were responsible for a spectacular and highly successful counter-attack during yesterday’s grim action, as Britain’s Eighth Army held the German onslaught against El Alamein. It was the only counter-attack launched by the British forces during the day. The New Zealand attack was launched in the afternoon, against the German Ninetieth Light Division. Details of the New Zealanders’ action have not yet reached Cairo, but it has been announced that it was highly successful. A story is told in Cairo of a signal flashed around the German Ninetieth Light Division and overheard by New Zealanders. The German division ranged themselves opposite the New Zealanders and when the Huns realised with whom they were about to clash, they sent a signal around their division: “Get all available ambulances.’ The Germans knew what they were up against. ... The Ninetieth Light Division had a bitter experience at Sidi Rezegh, in November last, when they were badly knocked about by the New Zealanders. The New Zealanders were again in action all day today, but again no details of the action they fought are yet known in Cairo. “They did very well, is the only comment that has so far come back.