DAWN HAKAS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 28 November 1941, Page 5

DAWN HAKAS

TERROR JTO NAZIS HANDS GO UP CHASE NEAR SOLLUM I PRISONERS CAPTURED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (From the Oilicinl War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F.) (Reed. Nov. 28, 9 a.m. CAIRO, Nov. 23. Cries of Maori hakas broke through the dawn as the Maori Battalion, New Zealand Division, swarmed to a spectacular attack near Solium on the morning of November 23 under heavy machine-gun, anti-tank and artillery fire. A daring attack was launched. Solium was now without water, for the pipeline to it was cut by the New Zealanders four days previously. Heavy artillery fire from Halfaya Pass continued, but the Maoris refused to budge and the Germans were shelling their own troops who were cut off in the Solium township on the shores of the Mediterranean.

Screened by British tanks, the Maoris moved up under cover of the pitch black night through the ruins of old Fort Capuzzo, twice previously held by British and Imperial troops and now held by the New Zealanders. In front was a squadron of tanks paving the way for the main attack. When the first rays of dawn started to filter through the sky the tanks made a sortie towards stronglydefended barracks overlooking Solium, which nestles in a bay at the foot of hills. Heavy German artillery at Halfaya Pass laid down a solid barrage and forced the tanks to withdraw, but not before they had routed several German machine-gun posts in the barracks. Back went the tanks to the attack again, but again they were driven off by the German artillery.

D ccm oralis in g Attack

When within a mile of the hill of Solium and the barracks the Maoris debussed and prepared for the main attack. Again our tanks withdrew to let the Maoris through and in the first grey light of dawn the Maoris, with bayonets fixed and led by the commanding officer of the Maori Battalion, rushed to a swift and demoralising attack. It was not a bayonet charge. Mortars and hand grenades were the chief weapons of attack. In face of the artillery barrage from Halfaya Pass and machine-gun, rifle and anti-tank fire from the barracks, the Maoris pressed on. The Germans continued firing on them until they were at the very walls of the barracks. Then they threw up their hands in surrender. Many scattered in the confusion and were chased down the road, into Solium township, terrified by the blood-curdling yells of the Maoris.

Most of the solid fighting took place on the road leading from the barracks down into the township. It was short and desperate while it lasted. Driven From High Ground

When the Germans realised they were up against the inspired Maoris, who knew no fear, they withdrew from the barracks and retreated smartly down the road. On and on went the Maoris until they had driven the enemy from the valuable high ground down into the township below. The prisoners captured in the barracks by the Maoris totalled close on 150 Germans and Italians. On the outskirts of Solium I stood watching a bombardment of the townsffiip from Halfaya Pass. All the old German ruthlessness was again displayed for he was shelling his own men in Solium as well as the Maoris. Back came Maori walking wounded, laughing and triumphant. One young Maori with four German machine-gun bullets in his arm was impatient to have his wounds dressed and get back into the fray.

Shelter from Shellfire

Maoris were crouched against the walls of the barracks sheltering from each burst of shellfire.

Up and down the shell CapuzzoSollum road Maori despatch riders and trucks raced all the morning. It was amazing that none was hit for shells were bursting on the roadway all the time. Out of the barracks marched a column of grey and khaki-clad Italian and German prisoners, escorted by half a dozen Maoris with bayonets fixed. Down the road they marched and into Capuzzo. While I have been writing this despatch an enemy reconnaissance plane circled overhead. We knew what to expect. A few minutes later heavy German artillery fire started to crash around us. Our batteries opened up in retaliation. Away in the distance is the drone of Royal Air Force planes. They come closer and can now be recognised. Much to our relief it is a squadron of bombers going over to deai with the German artillery. There should be a little peace and quiet soon when the Royal Air Force have finished their job.

Columns of Imperial infantry were rapidly converging to close the bottleneck, only three miles wide, between themselves and the British troops pushing from the Tobruk defences. The Axis forces on Friday turned some guns to face Tobruk and slammed shells south-east across the plain in the attempt to keep the fastclosing corridor open a few hours longer. Referring to prisoners, the correspondent says that in one column he counted 350 Germans and 33 Italians marching sullenly to camp. Another despatch dated Monday reports an unofficial estimate of the destruction of 50 Axis tanks in a fight 'which began after lunch and ended before sundown. onrush of mixed German and Italian tanks was thrown back swith the loss of 40 tanks.