UNEXPECTED FEAT

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

UNEXPECTED FEAT

New Zealanders’ Bag Of

Prisoners

(Official War Correspondent.) WESTERN DESERT, July 16.

Under a major of an Auckland battalion, 60-odd New Zealanders during Tuesday night’s attack captured a big bag of prisoners, all Italians. It was an unexpected feat accomplished under remarkable circumstances.

The major and 30 men bad become separated in tire darkness from their battalion when passing through an enemy tank formation. As day was breaking, they found themselves in a small wadi in which was an enemy stronghold. By this time the New Zealand forces bad been built up to 68 men. Though the men were reduced to five rounds of ammunition for each rille, it was decided to attack. Their fire was returned and a few casualties were sustained, but a determined bayonet charge settled matters —the enemy surrendered.

A number- of officers were included in the capture. They lamented when they saw the size of the force which bad overpowered them.

Willi few exceptions, Italian prisoners at the New Zealand headquarters are cheerfully enthusiastic over their capture. Some were even cynical when reference was made to the reported visit of Mussolini to North Africa. “We don’t expect to see him near the front line,” one Italian commented. All the Italians had a high regard tor the New Zealand 25-poqnder artillery fire.