WITH THE N.Z.E.F.

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1943, Page 5

WITH THE N.Z.E.F.

THE LAST PHASE IN TUNISIA.

(N.Z.E.F. Official Correspondent) WEST OF ENFIDAVILLE, May 9 (Delayed). Even with the fall of Tunis and the surrender of troons in the north by the thousand, the enemy continues to hold out desperately on the Enfidaville line. In their “leaning ro l e —that is, making their presence felt without undertaking any major engagement—the New Zealanders have had to face heavy shelling, and mortar bombing as severe as any they have experienced. Last night the enemy even .attacked a small section of positions held by New Zealanders overlooking the Pont du Fahs-Enfidaville road. German infantry were found to be infiltrating through our most forward positions, and later a strong attack w.as launched, supported by a considerable number of guns and multiple mortars, which rain down bombs at a terrific rate. The men in these forward positions managed to extricate themselves with a few casualties, and the enemy was held. On the left flank strong enemy fighting patrols were active, but no attack was delivered. In daylight to-day a company of Maoris split up into patrols and went out in search of enemy mortar and machine-gun posts. They had a most successful day, .capturing several mortars and enough machineguns for one to each man, and bringing back about 70 prisoners. They suffered no casualties. Meanwhile the enemy continued to mortar the position they had been occupying. Our artillery continues to give the enemy little respite.

Surrender to Freyberg

MARSHAL MESSE’S CAPITULATION.

(NZEF Official War Correspondent) ENFIDAVILLE, May 13. All is quiet now along the Enfidaville line. It was only last night from those hills lying just ahead that the New Zealand Division spurted death and destruction. At 9.15 in the morning, Marshal Messe ordered his troops, among them thousands of Germans, to cease resistance. This afternoon General .Miessle appeared in formal surrender before General Freyberg, Acting-Commander of the Tenth Corps, of which the New Zealanders are part. The meeting took place a few miles south of Enfidaville, where, among the olive groves, General Freyberg had his headquarters. Marshal Messe, a short, well-built, trim figure, arrived with his staff, which remained in the background while the Marshal conversed through an interpreter with General Freyberg. They came under a provost escort in a great variety of staff cars. While Marshal Messe was _ with General Freyberg, General Liebenstein, Commander of the 164th. German ' Light Division, which opposed the New Zealanders at the Tebaga Gap engagement, arrived also, complete with staff. He conversed fairly freely with the Corps Commander in English, only occasionally using

the services of an interpreter. Marshal Messe was granted leave to give a farewell address to both Italian and German officers, who formed* up in a hollow square in the grassy open space, and shook hands. Each one saluted in turn. Throughout to-day the hills disgorged enemy troops in thousands, their traffic mixed with ours in an unbroken stream from some miles north of Enfidaville. It was only yesterday morning that Enfidaville was being shelled. A great number of the defeated enemy decided not to surrender on this side of the front owing to the density of the minefields, and made their way north to the British First Army. Tentative moves toward submission were made by enemy leaders yesterday afternoon, but it was made clear to them that there would be no terms. Guns on both sides were firing during the late afternoon, when General Freyberg and his senior officers stood in a ga,p in the coastal road and awaited the appearance of the first surrendering enemy. This was many hours before the general order to cease resistance. They appeared with an officer in the lead carrying a white flag, and several men making a detour over their own minefields. Several hundred more submitted yesterday. The New Zealand Division is now regrouping in readiness for its next move.