ITALIAN TREACHERY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 10, 13 January 1942, Page 4

ITALIAN TREACHERY

ANOTHER EXAMPLE

(Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, January 10. Italian treachery was time and again brought home in full force to New Zealanders in the Libyan campaign. An officer of a Wellington battalion tells a story of the vicious tactics of the Italians when the New Zealand Fifth Brigade was making history in its brilliant attack on Gazala. Twentyfive pounders and Vickers machineguns hammered at the Italian defences with * relentless, accurate fire. The New Zealanders found the way to their objective temporarily barred by Italian machine-gun nests, anti-tank guns being employed as infantry weapons. Dike the poor fighters they are, the Italians soon crumpled under the sustained attack. On this occasion, as on many others, the white flag of surrender was quickly hoisted. The fire of the New Zealanders ceased and two Bren carriers moved towards the Italians. "When the carriers were 50 yards away from the enemy, an Italian anti-tank gun barked and a New Zealand sergeant was treacherously killed. Quickly the carriers withdrew and the Wellington battalion commander, watching through his (binoculars, immediately gave the order for a bayonet charge. Enraged by the Italian treachery, a Hawke's Bay company, led by a young Hastings land agent, went to the attack. •He used a captured German rifle and bayonet. In terror the Italians threw their hands in the air as the New Zealanders, grim and relentless, drove on. Ninety-six Italian prisoners were brought back. It had been a brilliant bayonet charge, but it did not win full marks at the time. The congratulations to those who took part came later.