GREAT PART

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1942, Page 4

GREAT PART

PLAYED BY NEW ZEALANDERS IN DESERT OFFENSIVE & PURSUIT. POLISH JOURNALIST’S TRIBUTE. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) CAIRO, November 13. Admiration for the New Zealander as a fighting soldier and a statement that New Zealanders conti ibuted the largest part to the success of General Montgomery’s second major offensive was made today by M. Latir.ski, a Polish journalist who followed the New Zealanders as far as lobruk, “They were amazing,” he said, “they launched the attack which resulted m getting Rommel on the run. If they had failed in the highly important task with which they were entrusted the Eighth Army might not have been at Tmimi today. By making the New Zealanders once again the spearhead of his attack, General Montgomery showed the great confidence he has in them. Under another terrific, creeping artillery barrage, the New Zealanders waded in. They knew just how much depended on them and they never faltered', dashing grimly on until all their objectives had been won. 1 saw them again at Mersa Matruh and then at Hellfire Pass, still chasing the Hun, to their great delight. Next I saw them at Bardia, but they dicln t stop there, for there was only one German prisoner to take. I slept that night in deserted Bardia —just my driven myself and a dog. Your troops were engaged in a skirmish at El Adem when the Bosche attempted a weak delaying action, but your fellows soon cleaned that up and were after him again Some of them shot into lobruk, but. did not stop. They were too keen on the hunt. Senioi’ officers pi the Allied armies to whom I have spoken have agreed that the New Zealander. without doubt, are the finest shock troops in the world.”