SPEEDY ADVANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 27 November 1941, Page 9

SPEEDY ADVANCE

DIVISION AWHEEL PASSAGE OF DESERT STATIONS FOR BATTLE (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (From the Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F.) (Reed. Nov. 26, 3 p.m.) CAIRO, Nov. 25. After two days of comparative inactivity and impatience on the part of the troops, the New Zealand division drove northward on Thursday as part of the brilliant strategic move to demoralise the enemy. They had crossed the Libyan border on Tuesday and their position, where they had a watching and waiting role, was about 40 miles from the sea, with a screen of divisional cavalry and tanks out in front. The division, in desert formation, started gingerly feeding its way forward on Thursday afternoon. From skyline to skyline north, south and west, the desert was an amazing mass of slow-moving transport of all kinds. While the division crashed and bumped its way across the desert, signals trucks and liaison officers in small fast trucks clashed and darted among the formation with radio messages picked up by the divisional signallers as they moved precariously balanced on the running boards of their trucks. Air support—that was all the New Zealanders asked, and they have got it. Dozens of bombers and fighters roared overhead as the division moved forward. We knew their purpose as they were bombing hell out of the enemy tanks to pave the way for us. It was reassuring. It gave us even more confidence, if any more was needed, to see these great planes of the Royal Air Force piloted by Australians, South Africans and Englishmen roaring over us.

Crash of Tanks’ Guns

Over on the right flank comes the staccato crash of the tanks' guns. Maybe we have encountered the tank battle which we know is in hectic progress somewhere ahead of us, or perhaps one of our infantry brigades has struck trouble. Speculation among the troops is rife In my truck is a lost South African photographer, who missed his unit. He wants to bet that the South Africans will be the first in at the relief of Tobruk. I have backed the New Zealanders.

On we go, but before we have covered another mile we are halted again,' The crash of heavy artillery fire comes ffom the right flank, but we are not perturbed. Crack Indian troops are watching things over there.

Just a minute ago the red band of the general’s cap caught my eye. He was standing on the seat of his car as it sped along, his head poking through the sun roof. With grim satisfaction the division passed ‘.he wreck of a German Stuka shot down, no doubt in the aerial battle of the last two days. Its , fuselage was riddled with machine-gun bullets. The engine and cockpit were tangled, blackened and charred by fire. Massed in Darkness

Daylight is fading fast. All the trucks are converging on the centre, coming in from the flanks and coming up from the rear. It is too risky to remain in desert formation at night. The risk of trucks being lost is too great, so now. the trucks are moving almost mudguards to mudguards and front bumper to rear tail light. There is no chance of anyone being lost. Not a light can be seen from these hundreds of vehicles as we move through the darkness. For two hours we have been travelling at under three miles an hour in blackness. Time passes and word comes that we are to stop for the night. In 20 minutes the troops are bedded down in the desert and asleep. The only sound is the movement of sentries and the occasional murmur of voices of the men on the anti-aircraft guns.

Missed by Nazi Plane

Away to the east a parachute flare drops lazily through the clouds. A German plane looking for the New Zealand division had roared over us shortly before. The pilot was a long way out in his estimate of where we might be. Luck was with us for the flare was too far away to have silhouetted even one truck of the New Zealand division.

Before the first glimmer of dawn had peeped out of the east sky, the division were dispersing and when the light came troops and trucks were scattered for miles around in the desert.

After this amazing drive northward of miles and miles the New Zealanders were not far from the coast. They' were on their toes wondering what the day would bring forth and hoping that once again they would get to grips with the enemy and for the first time meet him on equal terms.