LIVELY NIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1945, Page 5

LIVELY NIGHT

FIGHT FOR STOP-BANK

(Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.T.)

FAENZA, February 1. Last night was one of the liveliest for some weeks as New Zealanders challenged the German possession of a near stop bank of the Senio River. One formation wrested an important position from the enemy and still holds its gains. Another small force withdrew after defending its hold on the stop-bank against counter-attacks and flanking fire until its ammunition was almost exhausted.

In complete darkness at 8 o'clock a force of the 25th Wellington Battalion crept forward towards the stop bank, which dominates low-lying ground where the New Zealand positions were situated. The surprise was complete, and four Germans found themselves "in the bag." They proved to be the rest of a patrol, two members of which deserted to us the previous night. The position was secured despite enemy retaliation, though our troops suffered some casualties. Movements in the early morning revealed an incipient counter-attack which was dissipated when artillery "stonk" fell about it. Despite heavy fire today from Spandaus, mortars, nebelwerfers, and a self-propelled gun, our hold on this section of the stop-bank was unshaken.

In another area troops of the 26th Battalion also gained the bank, where there was close fighting. The New Zealanders were pressed by attacks from across the river and aiso by hot enfilade fire from enemy-held positions on the same stop-bank. The Germans could reinforce by means of a footbridge across the river. Of two Bren guns, one was knocked out by mortar fire and the other was also soon put out of action. The New Zealanders beat off one spirited counter-attack, using grenades, tommyguns, and rifle fire. This attack was stopped despite the most determined efforts on the part of German paratroopers, but the New Zealanders were left with little ammunition. Two tommy-guns had jammed and there were no more grenades. The New Zealanders then withdrew,' bringing with them two prisoners.