GERMAN LEAFLETS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1942, Page 3

GERMAN LEAFLETS

PRIZED AS SOUVENIRS BY NEW ZEALANDERS MAORI TROOPS HARASS ENEMY. WITH CAPTURED GUN. SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE'METHODS (Official War Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) WESTERN DESERT, August 23. Leaflets have been dropped high over the New Zealand lines from German planes in the last two evenings. The wind carried most of them miles away, but those which reached their mark are highly prized as souvenirs. They are addressed to “men of New Zealand” and consist mostly of a tirade against the English and claims of Ger.-, man successes. On the reverse side is a fair representation of a kiwi among mountain palms. I have watched several groups of soldiers reading them, and have wished the perpetrator were there to see the effect. He would not waste paper or petrol if he could hear the New Zealanders’ derisive remarks. The leaflets were a welcome change from bombs, none of which has fallen for several days. Well forward in the New Zealand positions is a captured Italian 75 millimetre gun which Maori infantrymen are using daily with success against the enemy. "Hey. Digger, how you use this thing?” the Maoris asked artillerymen when first attracted by the gun’s possibilities. The gun was without sights, so the artillerymen suggested they should aim it by looking through.the barrel. The Maoris did not know how to open the breach and, when this had been explained, they were left to their own devices. Much to everybody’s amazement, soon afterward the gun fired and has continued to fire at intervals evq,r since.

The Maoris’ methods show a total disregard of almost all the principles of artillery fire. The shell is just shoved into the breech without being rammed home, a few handfuls of cordite are place in a cartridge case, and when this is in position and the breech closed. the gun is ready to fire. With a long length of telephone wire attached to the trigger, the Maoris retire to slit trenches. A sharp tug on the wire and the gun fires. If the range is short, an extra handful of cordite is added to the next charge—if it is too long, the charge is reduced. By this method, the Maoris have harassed the enemy in his forward positions at a range of about 1000 yards.