EXPLOITS FROM EL ALAMEIN TO TRIPOLI

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23880, 24 February 1943, Page 2

EXPLOITS FROM EL ALAMEIN TO TRIPOLI

2nd N.Z.E.F. IN LIB YA

In the Piazza Gastello, Tripoli’s mam square, is a black metal diamond on an iron rod, the last of hundreds of diamond signs that have marked the New Zealanders’ 1500-mile trail across Egypt and Libya. Every move their columns have made since they crossed the El Alamein battlefield has been marked by th Qn October 23 the infantry brigades of the New Zealand Division waited all day for the order to attack the German positions at El Alamein the objective being Miteiriya ridge. Nobody doubted their ability to capture it. Ever since the failure of Rommel s abortive push against the British positions early m September, the New Zealanders trained with new' heavy tanks. Battle groups of tanks and artillery, all supporting the infantry, developed a technique of concentrated attack. At dusk on the chilly autumn evening of October 23, the ridge from the back areas to the front line began to fill in orderly sequence with anti-tank guns, Bren carriers, mortars, and tanks to support the infantry. Behind them rumbled up the heavy tanks and transport of the British Armoured Divisions. It was a brilliant moonlight night, and every man was tense. Zero hour approached, and suddenly, .with a single crash, more than 500 guns opened fire. It was the greatest barrage seen in Africa. At the same time the New Zealand infantry, armed with rifle and bayonet, tommy-gun, and Bren-gun, moved forward to the starting line. The attack was planned in two phases. The 23rd South Island Battalion on the right and the 24th Auckland Battalion on the left, were to capture the enemy forward defences. The Maori Battalion had the role of mopping up centres of resistance left in the course of the advance. The 21st Auckland Battalian and the 22nd Wellington Battalion on the right, and the 25th Wellington and 26th South Island Battalions on the left, were to leapfrog over the first two battalions to capture the final objective—-Miteiriya ridge. Enemy Defences

The enemy defences were manned by German infantry. Throughout the 6000yard advance, strongpoint after strongpoint had to be taken at the point of the bayonet. In clouds of dust and smoke the inevitable uncertainty of the war prevailed—in some companies all the officers were casualties—but the attack went on. For hours the situation was obscure. At last signals came back from one battalion, then another. We are on the objective.” By morning Miteiriya was won. The infantry assault had been magnificently earned out by the New Zealanders, Australians, Highlanders, and South Africans on the whole corps front. During October 24 the artillery and British tanks held the ground won. On the night of October 25, another New Zealand brigade went forward to consolidate the Mjteiriya ridge positions. British tank regiments of the 9th Armoured Brigade, which played a gallant part, won a tribute from Lieu-tenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg. The New Zealanders again attacked on the night of November 1, to breach the enemy'positions for oUr armour to sally out, to conserve the strength of jour now weakened infantry brigades. General Montgomery placed the Tyneside Brigade and the Highland Brigade under New Zealand command. _ These brigades and the Maori Battalion attacked, supported by an even greater concentration of artillery than in the first attack. By the end of the attack our artillery had fired 8000 rounds a gun without rest during the 10 days’ battle, despite heavy casualties. The tanks of the 9th Armoured Brigade and New Zealand Cavalry broke the enemy gunlirie. It was this attack, following so quickly on the first series of attacks, that finally made a breach through which the 10th Corps,comprising two armoured divisions -and the mobile New Zealand Division, passed on November 4. The role of the armoured divisions was to seek out and destray the panzer divisions v. hile the New Zealanders and British Light Armoured Brigade, comprising. . .tanks and arhioured edrs," uhder New Zealand command, were to moVe. west, avoiding the armoured battle to the north, cutting the enemy communications at Fuka, 60 miles behind the enemy’s lines. , A Difficult Manoeuvre

It was a difficult manoeuvre, especially as the majority of the New Zealand battalions had to embus from positions* ip the front line. Congestion, shelling at the gap, and the armdurea battle en route, delayed.progress, and when darkness came the brigades were still miles apart. Concentration by night in unknown enemy territory, 25 miles behind his line, was a difficult operation, and it. was not until two hours before dawn on November 5 that all units were concentrated, using a blazing ammunition truck hit by enemy fire in a night skirmish as the assembly beacon. 1 The New Zealand advance continued, the force moving in desert formation over open desert with armoured cars and tanks ahead. At daylight they encountered a column of the latest German Mark Three and Four tanks, eight of which the 4th Light Armoured Brigade surprised and disposed of in as many minutes. Fires and explosions of enemy dumps on the coast were seen during the day as the New Zealanders moved westward. Reports' of precipitate retreat were received later in the day.

The tanks and artillery of the New Zealanders- drove off the enemy rearguard covering the Fuka position. They were directed to Bagush on November 6, but unfortunately a heavy storm turned the desert into a morass, and all wheeled transport not using the coastal road was bogged. The enemy made full use of the respite, but had to leave behind many guns and trucks caught in the mud. > On November 8 the weather improved. They pushed on, passing with-

(Official News Service. N.Z.E.F.)

in sight of. the June battlefield \ qar Qaim. The enemy at this'« had. evacuated Matruh Fortress < New Zealand Division and the tached troops were directed to ( Barrani, which was occupied on' vember.9. On November 10 they vanced on the heavily held ea>. ment at Halfaya. ,

Below Halfaya escarpment, the li armoured advance guard was hew by minefields covered by the ena but as they deployed to attack, enemy withdrew. By dusk on Nov. ber 10 the sth New Zealand Brim moved forward through the mine* to support the 4th Light Arn^

Brigade. Halfaya, the last of the Axis-},, tresses to fall last year, is a fonS' able defensive position. A surprised tack was decided on, and just befe daylight on Armistice Day. no mi. the 21st Auckland Battalion with Bren guns and bayonetlt** complete success, for the loss of * killed and one wounded. Thewk 612 prisoners, some mainly Italians ol the Pistdfcljv* ion. whose motto is death.” Solium fell, and automijy Egvpt was clear of the enemy, the New Zealanders escarpment south of Bardia dntiheaf in December, when the greatmijr, vehicles of the. Division againlrSi: forward across the desert in an aW direct line toward El inward from the coast. They.-™S3) while the Highlanders and BritK'fi moured forces prepared tom,, frontal attack on the El AgheiltflbJ At El Agheila -'Vil On December 12, the British’fom attacked Rommel, who was maVm.

desperate attempt to hold ujTthe* tish advance at El Agheila;,The Ifc Zealanders, in a brilliant', ehdjtdi. movement, advanced through desert far south of El the greatest secrecy and, speed, and succeeded in point near the roadway, 60 mUe|,w a of El Agheila, close on the heels of main body of the enemy’ ’ngpijjjJ forces. In the semi-light - tbe Ne Zealand forces occupied ground south of the road, cleam| ; ( hilltops at the bayonet point. Pp®j(

and much equipment were cam® and the road dominated by ftrtffla Rommel escaped from this tfijp most of his forces, but the enanf | bruised.- . . ■ • .... After, bruising Rommel’s armotp rearguard, the New. ZealanderspUn to Nofilia, where they spent Chrate and New Year. They were, hofi mobile left flank of the Sth -AM

ready to sweep out and envelrojtb enemy wherever he might stanrin .fight. • ■ ... Then it appeared he would anpji to make another stand at BueMPM the New Zealanders again struckpft Into the desert on the fpurteepttpM travelled self-contained for atofiil. tion, ' petrol, water, and food; In . the first cold light of Janiupi the battle between the New fighting columns and th’e,’Gantt holding the defence lines ip Ttfpqlitapia began, while the HigWMtfl with armoured support, pressed,pm the coast. The New Zealanders,’'?® the British armoured forces, advapjijiij ahead of the main columns otf.m and artillery; crossed the sandy* Mis to meet the German troops in, tti Wadi Zem Zem area,. while ! JW6t!

after sweep of R.A.F. fighters vfctcW overhead the tank battle, which .fajfi across country as arid and rodky u any in North Africa. , > The New Zealand guns raced:, m ward in support of our armbut, te gradually the German forces, withdffl to the west of BueraL ' ‘ 1 On to Tripoli ' .

The New Zealanders moved towat Tripoli. The chief obstacle to’pn gress was the broken nature . nLS country,..precipitous wadis, - soft-hun mocky desert, and narrow’ i’flefiH through the Jebel Ranges, The'enem impeded our advance by demolition and minefields. The engineers, ; Kow ever,- cleared miles of country, bj passed •, demolitions,» and improvt mountain roads. At one stage itsWiiifi the enemy had chosen Ben .OJidii'U Italian colonial • outpost,.. as ;.«pp where they would make a 6t6M.;y)l armour pushed forward, and after i brief engagement forced the enemy # retreat. It was not until the NeW-Ztt landers reached the Outskirts of rTar buna, a village on the outskirts of W green Jebel country, that theyiM any real organised opposition. A pOCB of; German guns set on the;'hi about Tarhuna was effectively;!)! passed, but out in the. small sana;W beyond the road the New’ ZealM columns were temporarily halted I tank lines across the path. Tanks, 8w guns swept forward to engage;.® enemy. . The German armour wilt' drew,, to appear again near Azmi Patrols of the Maoris crept ahead Ml watched the enemy. We prepared » attack on the last line of deienM M* fore Tripoli, but did not PeejKto attack. By the first light of naldMJ the remnants of the 15th Panzer pWJ' ion had fled. A few shells. froWJlw tars landed among our transport-W the night of the twenty-second-.wn the only opposition met on thaia* stages of the advance on TripoliOn January 23 the New .ZwM» cavalry and troops of theSth'WW Zealand Brigade entered TrippUl' IW} completed the phase' of ’ miOMfiP fighting which the New ZeallwW started just on three months ’MfeiW are now resting in pleasant sutsw| ings, taking advantage of the'Ua® ited water supply to clean up antt • tiring three months’ campaign :w|w| desert ijath a short supply of. bra®g water and hard battle rations,,-:)® their spirits are high. They knotydgw played a vital part in solini’s Empire, for so long the Bth Army. Their parade.’fife*? Churchill was a fitting cllihapM his words to the men of New.ZWM were a tribute which made them W well satisfied with their achieyernM*