“HELL LET LOOSE”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20635, 10 December 1941, Page 7

“HELL LET LOOSE”

NIGHT ATTACKS SIDI REZEGH TAKEN N.Z TROOPS’ SUCCESS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (From the Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F.) (Reed. Dec. 9,2 p.m.) CAIRO, Dec. 7. Skilled and. daring night attacks bj> the New Zealanders on the night or November 25 and 26 resulted in the capture of Sidi Rezegh and Bel Hamed, two enemy strongholds. Before darkness on November 25, the left flank of the New Zealanders had advanced a considerable distance in preparation for the main onslaugni against heavy enemy concentrations almost due south of Tobruk. Earlj that morning the right flank haci pushed forward, and with the dawn, had consolidated and were ready loi a desperate concerted attack timed ic start that night. All day long the fighting along the whole front was intense and, although the Germans made grim efforts to drive us bacn, they failed and the New Zealanders remained on top.

About 9 p.m. hell broke loose tu the New Zealanders flung all theii resources against the enemy in a drive towards Tobruk. All night long this terrific battle raged under the cove, of a heavy and relentless artillery barrage. The New Zealanders pusheo on to attack by midnight. The troops on the right, who had been able to use their transport for a considerable distance, swarmed into Bel Hamed and, after fierce fighting,' captured it. Advance in Half-Moon Meantime, New Zealand battalions on the left, which could not take theii trucks up as far as those on- the right, pushed on towards Sidi Rezegh in the light of a half-moon and across a battlefield lit up by their own artillery barrage, New Zealanders on the left advanced steadily. By 3 o’clock on the morning of November 26 Sidi Rezegh was in the hands of the New Zealanders. Two vital enemy stror.g- - holds are now ours. Most of the German .forces withdrew to El Duda, which is • equidistant about three miles from both Bel Hamed and Sidi 1 Rezegh. It is another enemy stronghold on the road which the Germans ; built around ' the outer perimeter of the Tobruk defences. It runs from the Tobruk-Bardia main road in a southerly, then westerly sweep through Ed Adem, then north-west again until it joins the main TobrukSidi Barrani road. Its length is about 50 miles. El Adem, the German stronghold from which the Luftwaffe is believed to be operating, is midway along this road. Miles of this -road are commanded by New Zealand artillery, and El Duda itself is well Within. New Zealand artillery range. El Duda is on lower ground than both Sidi Rezegh and Bel Hamed. Commanding Positions The New Zealanders now hold two commanding Germans positions. Miles away Fort Capuzzo is held by South Island infantry. The barracks above. Solium were first captured' by the Maoris in a magnificent dawn attack and they also were quickly in possession of the road leading from the barracks down to the township of Solium and the sea. With the Maoris in possession of the Solium barracks, the New Zealanders now dominate the desert for miles around in this sector. They have a magnificent- vievy of the desert plain and the road leading up to Hellfire Pass and.a full view, of the enemy positions aLHellfire. Sucho a? commanding position gave-the- Maoris a chance to bottle up German transport. This they did with speed and great effect, their guns firing at the rear of the fleeing German transport. At 2 o’clock on the afternoon of the Maori capture of the Solium barracks, an enemy raiding , detachment from Bardia swept on- Capuzzo in a counter-attack. They were quickly routed by tanks and a Bren-carrier. Two light tanks and four lorry-loads of infantry were destroyed. Surprise Air Strafing

Out of the sky in the late afternoon of November 25 swooped over 20 Italian bombers.-. It was the first flight of enemy planes, the unit to which I am attached had seen.. They dive-bombed and , machine-gunned this unit in a brief but intensive attack. It was a' hectic period but, despite, its severity, there were very few casualties and only slight damage to transport.

The Royal Air Force superiority had given us a feeling of security from the air in the past six days. We had become accustomed to seeing great flights of Royal Air Force bombers and fighters passing over us so this enemy raid, quick and unexpected, made us realise that we had not got things all our own way in the air, , . ..

After the bombing and machinegunning was over, there was feverish digging and deepening. of slit trenches. To-day, we have the old feeling of security back again. There have been occasional German reconnaissance' planes over, but the Royal Air Force has been hovering around with its fighters all aay, and the Hun has not been game to come near. Several flights of British bombers, accompanied by fast fighters, have sped towards the German lines during the morning and, as they have passed over, New Zealanders have given them a cheer. The knowledge that there is any amount of air support has given the New Zealanders wonderful confidence in this battle for Tobruk which now rages. When the New Zealanders made their famous bayonet charge at Solium they destroyed an enormous amount of German material, states an agency correspondent with the Bth Army. The correspondent says that ever since they met them in Greece and Crete the New Zealanders, and especially the Maoris, had been bad dreams for the Germans.

For the attack on the Solium barracks the Maoris rushed forward with bayonets against very heavy enemy fire, which was maintained until the Maoris were actually upon them. The Germans then surrendered. They had been driven from most valuable high ground. The casualties of the Maoris, says the correspondent, were reasonably light.