BLOODY ENCOUNTER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 102, 1 May 1943, Page 5

BLOODY ENCOUNTER

PUNJABIS SMASH NAZIS

RUGBY, April 29. I One of the bloodiest encounters of the war. which was fought by the Fourth Indian Division a few days ago on a hilltop north of Enfldaville, is described by a commentator. The battle reached great intensity when a battalion of Punjabis, pushing along the crest, encountered a strong German position and called for an artillery barrage. Then, advancing under heavy shell-fire, the Punjabis stormed one line of German fortified emplacements only to face a second line, equally strong, 200 yards ahead. The Germans laid down a heavy mortar barrage and mustered for an attack, and the Indian troops were sufficiently close to hear the enemy shouting war cries. The Indians themselves raised a great shout of "Punjabis!" Both our own and the enemy's barrages increased, and the whole position became enveloped in blinding dust and smoke. The Germans charged with bayonets. The Punjabis stood firm and then sprang to meet the enemy. It was a bloody battle, with attacks and counter-attacks Of mounting vio- j lence. But the enemy could not shake loose the grip of our men upon the vital mountain top. Afterwards one of the Punjabis said, "I have seen two years of desert fighting, but I have never seen anything like the 30 minutes during which we went surging through clouds of dusl, shooting and rtabbing them till there were no Germans left except those lying on the ground."—B.O.W.