UNABLE TO DIG IN

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 250, 21 July 1942, Page 5

UNABLE TO DIG IN

Infantry Surrounded By Germans

(Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) EL ALAMEIN, July 17.

Without armoured support, with three anti-tank guns their only heavy weapons, and while they were just starting to prepare positions on reaching their objective, the Wellington infantrymen were no match for- the German tanks which had surrounded them at Ruweisat. They had faced a terrific fire and were prepared to fight through heavy odds, but to attempt to contend against the overwhelming strength of the- enemy tanks would have been madness.

The men were in the reserve battalion about a mile behind the two forward battalions which they followed in company columns at visibility distance. One company was to be used for mopping-up purposes, if necessary, and the others were to be kept intact for use where required. The forward battalions were in extended formation, each with a front of 1000 yards. Behind the whole followed the anti-tank weapons, machineguns and mortars in trucks and brigade headquarters with them.

The leading battalions fought their way through without being checked for any length of time, except when well ahead. They came on a laeger of tanks, disposed of two and continued to advance. The tanks appeared to have become separated. At 4.30 a.m. the reserve infantrymen had reached the near side of the ridge and the forward troops were on the far side. When leaving the reserve to order up the transport with the weapons and ammunition, after placing his troops in position, the brigadier came under strong fire, which was thought was from machinegun posts. The platoon was ordered to attack them. Proceeding on his way the brigadier encountered tanks at close range on both sides of him. It was their fire he had met and they were closing round on the rear of the infantrymen. He succeeded in reaching his headquarters. Unequal Struggle.

The position of the reserve infantrymen was worse than critical —it was hopeless. -Dawn was just breaking when three 6in. anti-tank guns of the hemmed-in New Zealanders opened up against the tanks. Their gallant effort was short-lived and two of the guns were silenced by a fierce concentrated fire. The third gun was moved to a better position, but it, too, could not last long. The infantry bad little chance to dig in before it found the tanks at its rear, but it is thought the casualties from this fire were light. The men were formed into columns and marched off under escort of the tanks. It is considered that probably few would have been captured had there been another 10 minutes’ time in which to prepare the positions. A small party which found itself in a more favourable position than the others escaped, though observed and fired on. The enemy left several stretcher-bearers who were tending the wounded. One of these described the happenings on the New Zealanders’ surrender. He said some tanks appeared to be manned by Germans and some by Italians. The troops were made to remove their steel helmets and web gear, but were told to retain their water-bottles. The enemy was in haste to remove them, forcing them to make off almost at a jog’trot. “It would have been useless for them to offer further resistance,” he said. Later in the day, three Bren-gun carriers braved heavy fire to bring the stretcher-bearers and the wounded they were tending to safety.