NAZI TANK LOSSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20837, 16 July 1942, Page 4

NAZI TANK LOSSES

N.Z. GUNS IN ACTION FURIOUS ENGAGEMENT ’ ENEMY FORCED BACK (By Telegraph—Prrss Assn.—Copyright.) (N.2.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) (1 pm.) WESTERN DESERT, July 15. The New Zealand artillery destroyed three German tanks in a short but furious engagement about 20 miles south of Adame in early on Friday morning. Almost 100 guns and a strong force of co-operating bombers 'Las prepared to meet t’ne German attack, but after a few rounds of gunfire the enemy withdrew. The action occurred in the same area where a few days before New Zealand artillery was largely responsible for the destruction of 42 German and Italian guns-. In the first light in the morning, a force of German tanks nopeared on the ridge of Akim Nayil, which we had used most sueecA fully as an observation post. As our artillery was preparing to lay down a barrage against them, divisional cavalry patrols saw a second force of German armour going to reinforce the tanks. When the Germans were about six miles from our positions, 25-pounder shells burst amongst them, quickly breaking up the attack. Although it was not yet 10.30 a.m.. this was the second highly-successful Inn rage our artillery had fired that day. Long before dawn the gunners had sent tons of high explosive screaming towards the enemy’s positions. At 3.30 a.m. we were awakened by the first thundering shots of a five-hour barrage of our guns fired in support of the attack the Australians and South Africans were making in the coastal area. The flashes of the guns lit up the escarpments and wadis about us as shot after .shot was fired into the darkness. There seemed to be hardly one minute between then and dawn that the guns were silent.