DEVASTATING FIRE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 292, 9 November 1942, Page 4

DEVASTATING FIRE

NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY GREAT PART” IN EGYPT (N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright.) (Official Correspondent.) ALAMEIN FRONT, Nov. 2. Devastating artillery fire from the Now Zealand lines paved the way during the early hours of this morning as our sappers worked heroically in clearing gaps in the minefields through which poured British infantry, tanks, and guns. In close support were our troops, back in line again after a short period of rest and reorganisation following their hard fighting in the earlier part of this great battle. In increasingly close association the New ZealandeiS penetrated about 4000 yards to the very heart of the enemy’s defences. Great as was the artillery barrage which heralded the start of this campaign 10 days ago, it was outdone in weight by the concentration of the pounding of the- enemy’s lines this morning. Behind this screen of bursting shells worked our sappers, searching for and lifting those treacherous mines menacing the movement of our armoured forces. They were not allowed to work unmolested. The enemy 7 spread the area with almost every type of fire at his command, but still the work went on till tho lanes had been cleared to allow the tanks freedom of movement, not only west hut north and south. Mines were found to be less densely spread than on previous occasions, but the search had to bo just as thorough. It was one o’clock and the moon had risen whon our artillery started its barrage. Great red glows soon appeared m the western sky. By 3.45 the first of the determined British infantrymen were on their objective. Little more than two hours later, all objectives had been readied On the flank New Zealand troop* were giving protection. Hard on the heels of the infantrymen came the first of the tanks. Theirs -was a stem task in the face of opposing tanks and strong anti-tank artillery fire. The hardest fight came the way of a tank regiment well known to New Zealanders for its operations in Crete, but the way was clear for the greater force which was to follow. The rumble of advancing tanks could be’ heard above the artillery lire and to the increasing haze of evil-smelling cordite smoke were added grbat, clouds of dust. Tho enemy tanks ventured close on the .eft flank of our forward thrust, but withdrew south-west when engaged by our artillery. While at this moment tanks fignt tanks, our troops remain ready for the next move. Through our lines havo poured hundreds of prisoners, mo-tly German. Enemy shelling is confined mostly to forward areas and our guns continue 1o fire without interruption. A late-evening dive-bombing raid was followed at night by relative freedom from heavy air attack, lighters ha\o maintained almost constant patrol over our lines but, awaiting his chance, tlie enemy this morning made a swift attack which met with litt'.e success, bombers being intercepted by fighters, which dived among them.JOur artillery has had but little respite during the past 10 days It has assisted attacks on other parts of the front and has carried out constant counter-battery work.

FOREFRONT OF TIIF, CHASE. The New Zealanders are in tho forefront of the chase after Rommel s Afrika Korns. For some days it has not been possible to tell the story of tho activities of the Now Zealand troops but now that the Axis forces are in full cry the picture of the. New Zealanders’ part in the great battle can be told.

After they had played a gallant and vital part in the opening phase of General Montgomery’s offensive on tlio night of October 23 they were withdrawn to become a corps of reserve. On that first night they went through two Axis minefields with their guns and the armour under their command and reached all their objectives before dawn. They consolidated next day and although coun-ter-attacked held All their newly-won positions. Then as the trend of the battle swung away from their positions they wore withdrawn. Another job for them was to come later when the Eighth Army battle plan was fully developed. So the New Zealanders came out of tho front line, had a rest and regrouped to wait for the barrier to go up on their next role. , Occasionally they were dive-bombed as they lay in their 'slit trenches not - far behind tho front line, but the magnificent work of tlio Allied air forces gave them an umbrella of protection during most of tho time they were inactive There were' not many casualties caused bv the Huns’ spasmodic bombing atBy tho night of November 1 General Montgomery’s plan had developed so well that he was ready to use the New Zealanders in a new phase of his offensive. With the solid firepower and armoured support tho New Zealanders once again went into battle. Once a gap had been opened the New* Zeal an dors had a flanking job and now they are hard on Rommel’s heels pursuing him relentlessly.