INFERNO OF FIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 July 1942, Page 3

INFERNO OF FIRE

MET BV NEW ZEALAND COLUMN IN BREAKING THROUGH NAZI CORDON. GRIM NIGHT ORDEAL. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) WESTERN DESERT, June 28. When Rommel’s panzer attack on elements of the New Zealand Division was at its height on Saturday, heavy anti-tank and machine-gun fire from the enemy fell on one of the escaping New Zealand columns near its head. The battle group to which I was attached attempted to break through the German ring about 3 o’clock in the morning. German tanks cruising opposite the length of the New Zealand column sent shells and incendiary bullets into the trucks. The troops remained aboard their trucks, but the hope of rushing through the narrow . gap seemed lost when a burning vehicle lit up the whole area. Streams of German tracer bullets swept over rows of New Zealand trucks and sprayed the open ground between them. Glowing red anti-tank shells crashed over artillery squads, ammunition trucks, and three-tonners. There were great bursts of flame as petrol tanks and ammunition exploded, while tracer bursts whipped through the column. Above the continuous crackle of the spandaus was the deep cough of the guns and the thump of mortars. Engines roared as the drivers swung their trucks. Troops grabbed hold of limbers, guns, and carriers’ mudguards, radiators—anywhere there was a handhold. The column swung north and then west, and all the time the glittering, fiery-red bullets followed the trucks. Twelve German tanks were halted on top of an escarpment a quarter of a mile away, but they thought o.urs was an Axis column and did not open fire. . All round the horizon Very lights and flares were shooting up from Axis positions. Where no lights showed, the column was growing as other trucks joined and swung through the wadis over the escarpment. Trucks and guncarriers moved close together in case of tank attack. On and on we went, with the men clinging to the crowded vehicles. Help was being given our wounded while the swaying trucks showed 'white in the bright light of a bomber’s moon. . ' Then came a halt. In a few minutes we moved on again, and not long after we saw Indian troops round their trucks. We were out of the Axis wing. It seemed at that stage that some New Zealanders might have been cut off, but they got through. We halted and organised ourselves ■into a fighting force again. Wounds were dressed. Everyone drew deeply on cigarettes hidden by cupped hands, for there was still danger of the enemy tanks making an attack. Just as dawn came an alarm was given. Anti-tank parties rushed toward the front. The distant tanks moved closer, but we saw they were British and we were able to lean back and rest. All day the sun beat down on the

convoy. There was only enough water for an occasional mouthful. All our thoughts were for the rest of the New Zealanders. Had they escaped? Late tonight we heard that most of the remainder of the New Zealanders were safe.

-BATTLE DETAILS SOUTHERN AREA QUIET FOR MOMENT. AIR FORCE ACTIVITIES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, July 3. Yesterday’s attack by the enemy on the El Alamein positions is considered by an agency correspondent with the Eighth Army to have been an attempt to feel the strength of the British forces. In the southern area, says the correspondent, no fighting has occurred. German air activity was on an increased scale yesterday, especially during the night, when the enemy used Stuka dive-bombers. The R.A.F. was especially active and during the night of July 2 medium bombers, escorted by fighters, started one of the biggest fires seen in the Western Desert, at El Daba. United States Army aircraft operated over Tobruk with similar success.