CHANGE FROM GREECE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 28 November 1941, Page 8

CHANGE FROM GREECE

BOOT ON GERMAN FOOT TAKEN BY SURPRISE (Elec. .Tel- Copyright—United Press Assn.) (From the Ollieial War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F.) (Reed. Nov. 28, 9 a.m.) CAIRO, Nov. 22. Comparatively small enemy air activity due to the relentless work of the Royal Air Force has given the New Zealanders for the first time the opportunity to fight an action on comparatively equal terms with the Germans. It is their infantry against ours and so far the Germans are a very bad second. They were caught on the hop and have been kept on the hop ever since. All day to-day, November 22, New Zealand infantry units have hammered tire German lines. The troops who are now near the inner perimeter of Eardia successfully repulsed two German counter-attacks during the day and are in as strong a position as ever. Fought on the wide open desert, which affords practically no cover from either fire or view, this extraordinary action has so far failed to cause more than half a dozen casualties to the New Zealanders. With the swiftly-changing events the British attack takes on a different aspect hourly. Place names .mean little in this astonishing campaign. Capuzzo, taken only this morning, is to-night forgotten. Whereas Greece and Crete were for the New Zealanders a tragedy and a debacle, the boot is now on the German foot with a vengeance. This time with the great planes of the Royal Air Force, fighters and bombers, racing across the skies, the morale of the New Zealanders has reached new heights and they are fighting with that speed and determination so necessary to carry them on to victory. All units are carrying cut bold tactical moves, but they have succeeded to date because of their very audacity combined with skill. Prisoners’ Admissions German prisoners I saw to-day admitted that both they and the Italians had been taken by surprise. Their stories merely confirmed what took plaice at Capuzzo early this morning when a South Island infantry battalion was able to eat a hot breakfast left by the fleeing Germans and Italians. The prisoners taken to date, both German and Italian, are of a poor type. Many of the Germans are extremely young, several admitting that they were only 19 years old. Their uniforms were old and shabby. They and the Italians were a dejected lot, wearing tattered drill uniforms and ill-fitting greatcoats. Masses of German equipment have been captured. All day long equipment has been coming through. Late this afternoon a German battalion commander’s car arrived. Lashed to the radiator was a gold-painted horseshoe. On the side was a swastika shaded by a palm. Early Tally of Captives Up till noon to-day the total number of prisoners captured by the New Zealanders was 4uo. When darkness came to-night the battle of the New Zealand infantry was continued with the vigour and determination that characterised the New Zealanders’ efl'orts all day. Flashes of shellfire lit up the skies and told of New Zealand artillery pounding the German lines. It continued until late. Although the British advance into Libya started in a downpour which turned the desert into a treacherous waste for tanks and motor transport the rain stopped on the first day. Heavy dark clouds have threatened rain from day to day, but except for a short solid shower this afternoon, rain fortunately has held off.

A cold wind from the Mediterranean has been blowing east across the desert for days and the nights have been like those of Wellington in the middle of a winter sou-wester. It is well for the New Zealanders that rain has not fallen, for if it had their spectacular attacks would assuredly have been handicapped. Tanks and motor transport are becoming bogged even now. In places the desert is still dangerously soft and some of one unit’s transport got into difficulties when advancing towards Barclia.

Experts now in desert travelling, the drivers soon had their trucks dug out again and speeding on to catch up.

The weather is not of the same importance in desert warfare as on soil, but rain can and does bring its problems so the New Zealanders are hoping for fine days and nights.