TO ATTACK MISURATA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 25, 29 December 1942, Page 5

TO ATTACK MISURATA

EIGHTH ARMY PREPARING. (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, Dec. 28. The Eighth Army is massing for an attack against the defences of Misurata, 110 miles cast of Tripoli, to which Pommel has delegated an Italian brigade in order to cover the withdrawal of tho Afrika Korps, now nearing Tripoli. A correspondent with the Eighth Army said Sirtc was found demolished. Booby-traps were everywhere. Some enemy tanks fired a few hasty shots and then dashed away at full speed. A daring British battery attached to tho New Zealandcrs provided a,remarkable incident in tho recent advance across the desert to Marble Arch, says a wireless commentator. The battery took up a position from which it could shell enemy transport fleeing westward along the road, and did not realise at the time that behind this transport there was a strong panzer rearguard also attempting to break out to the west. Next day, however, when the British were moving along a deep wadi, there suddenly came into view 25 German tanks with guns in their rear moving right across the path of the advance. The British gunners opened fire at once. The enemy manoeuvred round behind them as if to hem them in. The first British troops directed their fire so as to keep the enemy tank crews battened down inside their turrets. The second troop pushed on to the south-west and went into action. The first troop thereupon limbered up and leap-frogged the second, and so a running fight went on for 10 miles.

Enemy tanks came in closer, some even as near as 400 yards. The fight moved further and further southwest, drawing ever nearer to the main British forces, till at last the 25 German tanks broke off the engagement. The battery rejoined its regiment, having suffered only light casualties.