NEW ZEALANDERS IN VAN

Evening Star, Issue 25471, 30 April 1945, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS IN VAN

GERMANS BEATEN AND EXHAUSTED FLEEING~I PANIC (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) ADIGE RIVER, April 27. Just 43 hours after they set out across the Po the New Zealanders started crossing the Adige River, and half an hour later they were firmly established. They were the first troops of the Eighth Army to cross the Adige. Between the crossings the infantry had advanced 12 miles on foot over difficult and thickly-populated country, taking several prisoners and a great amount of enemy material, and chased a light holding force out of the area between the rivers. The same men made both crossings, and to-day were still pressing forward, meeting only slight and disorganised resistance. The enemy ahead is obviously a beaten and exhausted rabble. Italians here tell of the Germans fleeing in panic, some weeping with strain and exhaustion, some stumbling on bandaged and bleeding feet, and most shedding their equipment, even ' personal belongings, as they go. Not only is the retreat marked by abandoned vehicles and big dumps of munitions, but a trail of rifles, steel helmets, overcoats, and personal odds and ends gives the advance an aspect' of grotesque paperchase. The New Zealand infantry and tanks are moving steadily ahead, and at midday were some seven miles beyond their bridgehead across the Adige. The country there is not so well roaded as that south of the river, but despite the rain of the past two nights, the going is still fair, over flat, cultivated fields and through fresh and green in their spring colouring. But for the first time since we left Rimini, more than six months ago, hills now loom directly in the path of the division—the first outcrops of the hilly country that leads right up to the Alps. NO RESPITE FOR ENEMY. It is doubtful whether in his present disorganised state, and considering the losses of men and equipment he has suffered, the enemy will be able to make any 6ort- of a stand, especially as our forward armoured columns > are constantly harassing his retreating formations and making sure he has no time to settle down In the path of the New Zealand advance, however, there are signs that the panic which characterised the enemy's crossing of the Po and his hasty flight to the Adage has subsided sufficiently to permit a more orderly retreat, as the-enemy is now blowing bridges, and here and there fighting small delaying actions to retard our forces as far as possible with the object of easing the withdrawal of his main units to the Venetian line. Such motor transport as he still possesses has been seen heading rapidly northwards, and has formed a welcome target for our fighter-bombers. For the first time in the history of the New Zealand Division maps jvere dropped from a plane yesterday over divisional headquarters near the Adige River. The speed of our troops' advance was such that when maps had to be sent immediately from corps to divisional headquarters, a tiny artillery spotting plane was commissioned to do the job The pilot circled once or twice over divisional headquarters, acknowledged a recognition sign, and dropped the maps within a few yards of where they were wanted. '