PART IN ADVANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20620, 22 November 1941, Page 5

PART IN ADVANCE

DOMINION TROOPS VITAL ROLE LIKELY CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY (Elec. Tel. Copyrigb) -United Press Assn.) (From the Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F.) (Reed. Nov. 22, 9 a.m.) CAIRO, Nov. 20. New Zealand, South African and Indian troops fight side by side in the Western Desert as the Bth Army’s desperate effort to drive the Germans and Italians forever out of Africa develops. Once again New Zealanders are in the thick of the fray. They may play a highly-important and possibly vital part in the victory so confidently expected in this theatre of war. Heat and sandstorms gave way to an Auckland summer’s deluge as the troops of the Bth Army advanced for the first thrust into Libya. Rain, which turned the desert into a treacherous waste for tanks and motor transport, drenched the troops as the New Zealanders carried out the approach march between 8 o’clock and 9 o’clock on Monday night. By 3 o’clock the next morning this extraordinary desert downpour had ceased and the New Zealanders were at the starting point. On they went, and with rain-clouds scurrying away in the eastern sky the New Zealanders, with their supports, crossed the Libyan frontier about an hour after dawn. Contact With Tanks So far there had been only minor contact with the enemy, mainly with tanks.

Reports from the forward areas state that about 200 Italian tanks and armoured transport are bogged in a defensive position south-east of Tobruk and not far from the Libyan border. New Zealand girls will play a major part in the Western Desert battle. For the first time in the history of war through the ages nurses will take their place in hospitals near the front line. One of New Zealand’s three general hospitals is already operating near the forward areas.

The. message received from Mr. Winston Churchill was read to all ranks of the army and the Royal Air Force in the Western Desert, and to the Mediterranean Fleet.