CAPTURE OF MEGA ABYSSINIAN EPIC

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20493, 1 March 1941, Page 6

CAPTURE OF MEGA

ABYSSINIAN EPIC

SOUTH AFRICANS’ FEAT HEAVY ODDS OVERCOME SURRENDER OF ENEMY (lilec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reccl. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 28. Details reaching Nairobi of the capture of Mega, in southern Abyssinia, tell a story of three unforgettable days of fighting in rain, mud and icy cold. A sudden deterioration of the weather found our troops, acclimatised and equipped for the desert, attacking a 3000 ft. escarpment. The South Africans triumphed against powerful European opposition and against immobilised transport and low temperatures. They continued unopposed through enemy territory. On the first day the troops Covered 40 miles over a good road. On the second day they travelled through the bush to avoid land mines. On the third day the attack began at 10 a.m. Through rolling mists, the Italian artillery was shelling our transport. Our infantry converged on Mega on foot from the north-west and south. Roads a Quagmire At noon, as the storm broke, the troops became invisible, the roads a quagmire, and battle impossible. The men were barracked at the base of the hills without ground sheets or overcoats. Those under Italian fire could neither smoke nor light fires to warm themselves. Owing to the immobilisation of transport the ration was one tin of bully beef and one biscuit for four men. On the fourth day the infantry advanced towards the hills ankle deep in mud and often moving backwards owing to the thickness of the scrub. They were supported by artillery and aircraft, but were opposed by machineguns and artillery from the hills. Meanwhile, other South Africans attacked a 30001't mountain south of Mega. The capture of an enemy observation post at noon to some extent lessoned the efficiency of the Italian artillery, but all afternoon the troops struggled over the precipitous mountain sides through the hottest fire. JUst before dark the South Africans captured a machine-gun nest which commanded the whole area. Men “Dead Beat” By this time, the men were all dead beat. Some were hardly able to move and one officer fell down through sheer weakness while throwing a grenade. There followed a second fireless night. The rain poured down arid blankets did not arrive through the quagmires Until midnight. The men stripped naked and, with chattering teeth, beat bach other’s bodies to restore circulation.

The final phase of the battle opened on the fifth day. Artillery, manhandled up the mountain sides, silenced the enemy guns. An aeroplane scored a direct hit on a blockhouse, killing all inside, and another blockhouse surrendered. At 4.25 p.m.. with bayonets fixed and amid black clouds, rain, and thunder which drowned the sound of mortars, the infantry charged forth. After 20 minutes a flag was seen over the fort through a rift in the clouds. Then, as armoured cars advanced first in case of treachery, men came streaming out from the fort carrying White flags. Amoiig them was the colonel governing Mega province, who formally surrendered. So many prisoners were captured that the South Africans were puzzled how to handle them,