QUICK SUCCESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 December 1943, Page 3

QUICK SUCCESS

WON BY NEW ZEALAND TROOPS IN OPENING STAGE OF SANGRO BATTLE. MANY PRISONERS TAKEN. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) > ITALY. November 28. New Zealand infantry were among those who crossed the Sangro River and thrust well into the enemy positions. Obstacles were many, but our men took them in their stride to complete what is an .amazing advance considering the difficulties of terrain. The casualties were trivial. In complete darkness the men moved forward from positions which they had occupied for some days between a road and the river. Ahead, across the gravel bed of the swiftly-flowing stream, were the rising heights of the first objectives. As the night wore on toward early morning a chilling rain and rising river added to the hazards. The placing of our start line actually on the enemy side of the Sangro offered an advantage for a silent crossing. The preparations on the previous night had included the running of lines across the river, and these proved invaluable as the swirling, mountain water deepened during the night. The laden men found their footholds slippery, and as it was the current caused some to lose their balance, but in silence the opposite side was won. On the starting line the sole interference came from a spandau, which fired a few ineffectual bursts before its crew decided the place was unhealthy. Our own artillery barrage crashed and rolled from the mountain valleys as the battalions commenced their slow, slogging advance. The enemy apparentlyhad little liking for the grim work in the darkness and rain, for soon the first prisoners began to be taken. The main task in the prevailing blackness was to hold our direction, and to make any progress at all over the slippery rock and mud surface, but amazingly our troops contrived to do both and also to gather in many prisoners. These prisoners became a problem as their numbers grew, for soon one formation found itself burdened with 100 Germans and another with 60.

The objectives fell quickly as the sky lightened, and shortly after dawn success signals were being flashed to the headquarters. The light found the troops firmly established on high ground facing still greater heights held by the enemy, but with the formidable barrier of the Sangro behind them. Up to the time of writing no coun-ter-attack worthy of the name has developed, though the forward positions are subject to some mortar fire. An hour after dawn the men saw a direct gun-hit on a boat intended for the use of the troops, but the transport moves freely on a nearby bridge in spite of

efforts by enemy planes. The infantry cheered this morning when, a Messerschmitt was winged by a Spitfire, and there has been much more cheering this afternoon.