N.Z. COLUMN’S FEAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20827, 4 July 1942, Page 3

N.Z. COLUMN’S FEAT

GERMANS ELUDED BREAK THROUGH RING A NIGHTMARE EXPLOIT (By Telegraph—Press Aasn.— Copyright.) (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) (9 a.m.) WESTERN DESERT, July 3. When General Rommel’s Panzer attack was at its height on Saturday, heavy anti-tank and machine-gun fire from the enemy fell on one of the escaping New Zealand columns near its 'head battle group, to which I was attached. When it attempted to break through the German ring at about 3 o'clock in the morning, German tanks cruising opposite the New Zealand column sent shells and incendiary bullets into the trucks. The troops remained aboard the trucks, but hope of rushing through the narrow gap seemed to be lost when a burning vehicle lit up the whole area. Streams of tracer bullets from the Germans swept over the rows of New Zealand trucks and sprayed the open ground between them. Glowing red anti-tank shells crashed over the artillery squads of ammunition trucks and three-tonners. There was a great burst of flame as petrol tanks and ammunition exploded, while a tracer burst whipped through the column. Above the continuous crackle of the Spandaus was the deep cough of guns and the thump of mortars. Troops grabbed hold of limbers, guns, carriers, mudguards, radiators —anywhere there was a hand-hold. The column swung north and then west. All the time glittering fiery red bullets followed the trucks. Twelve German tanks were halted on top of the escarpment a quarter of a mile away, but they thought ours was an Axis column and did not open fire. Most New Zealanders Safe All round the horizon, Verey lights and flares were shooting up from the Axis positions. Where no lights showed, the column was growing as ather trucks joined and swung through the wadis and over the escarpment. Trucks and gun-carriers moved close together in case of attack by tanks. On and on we went, with men clinging to the crowded vehicles. Help was being given to our wounded while the swaying trucks showed white in the bright light of a bombers’ moon. Then came a halt. In a few minutes we moved on again, and not long after we saw Indian troops around their trucks. We were out of the Axis wing. It seemed at that stage that some New Zealanders might have been cut off, but they got through. We halted and organised ourselves into a fighting force again. Wounds were dressed. Everyone drew deeply on cigarettes hidden by cupped hands, for there was still a danger of the enemy tanks making an attack. Just as dawn came the alarm was given. Anti-tank parties rushed towards the front. The distant tanks moved closer, but we saw that they were British and we were able to lean back and rest. All our thoughts were for the rest of the New Zealanders. Had they escaped? Late on Sunday we heard that most of the remainder of the New Zealanders were safe.