VALIANT PUNJABIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1943, Page 3

VALIANT PUNJABIS

MOUNTAIN STORMED NORTH OF ENFIDAVILLE ADVANCE UNDER HEAVY SHELLFIRE. VIOLENT ENEMY RESISTANCE SMASHED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 29. One of the bloodiest encounters of the war, which was fought by the Fourth Indian Division a few days ago on a hilltop north of Enfidaville, is described by a commentator. The battle reached a tremendous pitch when a battalion of Punjabs, pushing along the crest, encountered a strong German position and called for an artillery barrage. Then, advancing under heavy shell-fire, the Punjabs stormed one line of German emplacements only to face a second line, equally strong, 200 yards ahead.

The Germans laid down a heavy mortar barrage and mustered for an attack, and the Indian troops were suffiently close to hear the enemy shouting war cries. The Indians themselves raised a great shout—“Punjabis!” Both our own and the enemy’s barrages increased, and the whole position became enveloped in blinding dust and smoke. The Germans charged with bayonets. The Punjabis stood firm and then sprang to met the enemy. It was a very bloody battle, with attacks and counter-attacks of mounting violence. But the enemy could not loosen the grip of our men upon the vital mountain top. Afterwards one of the Punjabis said. “I have seen two years of desert fighting, but I have never seen ariything like the 30 minutes during which we went surging through clouds of dust, shooting and stabbing them tjll there were no Germans left except those lying on the ground.” JOYOUS WELCOME GIVEN TO TWO EMBARRASSED. NEW ZEALANDERS. IN LIBERATED VILLAGE. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) NEAR ENFIDAVILLE, April 25. Among many stories of enthusiastic welcome circulating after the Eighth Army penetrated to the Tunisian coastal plain one of the best concerns a New Zealand officer who, with a driver was the first member of the Allied forces entering a small coastal village north of Sousse. Apparently the inhabitants had been anxiously waiting to welcome British troops but the main tide of the advance bypassed them. As the two New Zealanders approached the village a car full of French civilians passed them. This apparently gave warning of their approach, apd when they arrived, to their consternation, they were confronted by hastily assembled boy scouts, girl guides, dignitaries of the village, gendarmerie, and a very attractive bevy of bouquet-bearing demoiselles. Over this variegated but enthusiastic concourse, British, American and French flags were proudly displayed. Strenuous efforts were immediately made to carry the embarrassed officer shoulder high through the streets, but modestly declining the honour he found he was not absolved from taking the salute at a march past of gendarmerie, while two trumpets, apparently the only martial musical instruments in the village, sounded a joyous if unsubstantial fanfare. Though the officer declined the previous elevation the driver accepted and was enthusiastically borne aloft amid shouts of “Vive I’Angleterre.”