INVASION REHEARSAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1942, Page 3

INVASION REHEARSAL

THE RAID ON DIEPPE CANADIAN CORRESPONDENT GIVES DETAILS. TROOPS READY TO GO BACK TOMORROW.' (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) MONTREAL, September 28. Wallace Reyburn, the Montreal “Standard’s” correspondent in the Dieppe raid, speaking at a luncheon at the Canadian Club, answered questions which have been frequently raised about Dieppe. He said the reason for the raid was as a prelude to a second front, and Dieppe was chosen because its proximity to English air bases made the protective aerial umbrella possible. Asked if it was a commando raid, Mr Reyburn replied: “No, it was an invasion in rehearsal, with heavilyarmed infantry and tanks.” Asked if anything hampered the success, he replied that the chance encounter with German patrol boats gave a warning to the enemy, causing heavier casualties than otherwise would have been suffered. Asked if the Germans were prepared or surprised, he said that the E-boat encounter' prepared the Germans on the left flank, but the raiders on the right flank “dug the Nazis out of bed with bayonets.’ The security precautions were perfect.

Asked if the tank landings were successful, Mr Reyburn replied that .the sea wall caused the engineers great difficulty in getting the tanks asnore, but German propaganda pictures showed that they penetrated to a great distance. Bombers were not used to “soften up” the coast beforehand, because it would have eliminated the element of surprise. When asked if Dieppe was worth the heavy casualties, he replied, "Certainly. It was realised beforehand that they would be heavy. The military knowledge gained will be invaluable, and it is necessary before a second front is launched.” Mr Reyburn said the French remained cool. A farmer continued bringing in his hay, and another cycled along a street that was under shellfire. , . ~ Asked about the English part in the raid, he replied that he had been disgusted and shocked to hear statements that the Canadians were used unnecessarily, and that the English troops had been saved. “Such statements must make Goebbels rub his hands in glee. The Canadians insisted on forming the spearhead of this invasion rehearsal, because, as General MacNaughton said, they wanted to.” , , , „ Mr Reyburn recalled the part taken by English commandos in carrying out the dangerous task of flanking the German artillery. The British Navy, too, he said was wonderful. Sailors coolly carried’ out their duties with gaping wounds in their arms and bodies, and they did not flinch. Asked, “Are the troops discouraged by the action?” he replied: Assuredly not A typical reaction was that oi a soldier who said, ‘With the wonderful Navy and Air Force I m ready to go back tomorrow and blast hell out of them.’ ” -