HILLS TAKEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 170, 30 April 1943, Page 5

HILLS TAKEN

NEW ZEALANDERS IN TUNISIA.

STUBBORN • RESISTANCE MET.

(Ofncial War Correspondent, N.^.E.F.)

NEAR - ENFIDAYILLE, April '25

On the eve of Anzac Day New Zealand troops were in action among "the hills and wadis of Tunisia,' and when this, significant day in New Zealand military history was only •three hours old another heavy barrage thundered among the hills north-west of Enfidaville supporting New Zealand' infantry in bitter fighting for valuable- hill features of the Enfidaville Line.

Following up their almost unimpeded 2000 yards’ advance of the previous night, the troops- of one New Zealand infantry fortfmtion drove almost another mile'and a half northwards to establish a line fronting tfie Jebel Mengoub. Unlike the attack tf the previous night, when "only one enemy patrol-was encountered, this attack met very stubborn opposition, but When the armour of a. famous British regiment swept through at the first light it was able to complete the work of the New Zealand infantry and clear the enemy from the three hill features which were the main objectives. ' A simultaneous attack launched by English troops 011 the New Zealand right flank ,also made a considerable advance through difficult country. The New Zealand infantry attacked at 10 o’clock silently, without artillery support. . On the right they took the 'conical, -hill named Takrouna without meeting very strong resistance, but'in 'the centre, where they attacked an'other similar feature, 1 Bir es Srafi, they found German and Italian infantry strongly entrenched and prepared to fight it out. In the face of'heavy mortar and. small arms, fire the New Zealanders swept lip the forward slope of the hill and engaged the 'enemy fiercely oh the Summit. In The fighting which followed, in which rifles, tommy-guns, and grenades were used freely, heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy, who finally abandoned the hill.

It was then realised that if the positions already gained were to -he consolidated a flanking hill must also be captured. ' Here, again, the ' enemy fought very: stubbornly, and "although the New Zealanders drove them to the summit, a determined counter-attack launched before they coUld cottsolidate drove them back again. By 3 o’clock in the morning, although' we held Takrouna arid the reverse slopes of.Bir es Srafi, the situation was still indefinite. Artillery support was therefore called up, and under a barrage our infantry attacked. At the first light/ when tanks were sent through, the enemy still held the flankihg hill and' some positions on Bir es Srafi, but the tanks smashed stubbornly manned machine-gun nests and cleared all objectives completely. As the positions captured on the 'flanking hill could not "be consolidated 'at this stage, the tanks left this f6a--1 ture, which was 'again occupied by The 'enemy, but the attack left its in possession of two valuable hill TCfitures and the intervening ground.

’ During the tank attack several ‘enemy anti-tank guns were dealt with ; and strong machine-gun ancl mortar posts.’overrun. These attacks on successive nights have advanced our front nearly another 5000 yards into the hills, and the combined front, line is now witlfih striking distance of the rugged Jebel Mengoub.

1 The New Zealand losses were not heavy, and some'prisoners Were taken. This morning artillery on both sides was. very actively engaged, the counter battery work of our guns being assisted by a strong bombing' attack.