Picturesque Fighting French From Chad

Northern Advocate, 10 April 1943, Page 2

Picturesque Fighting French From Chad

(Official N.Z.E.F. War Correspondent.) NEAR GABES. April 8

Among the forces under General Freyberg’s command for (he left hook movement he led through (he Tebaga Gap was a Fighting French column under (he distinguished French leader, General Le Clerc. These men were part of the force General Le Clerc led 2000 miles across the Sahara from Lake Chad to link up with the Eighth Army in southern Tripolitania. They were men so innured to the desert and its hardships that they had long since ceased to find them anything remarkable. A Wish Gratified Their chief anxiety was to get to grips with the enemy. This they have done will) results most satisfactory to themselves and most unsatisfactory for Germans and Italians on several recent occasions. The majority of the rank and file of the French force are natives of the Chad province. very similar in appearance to the famous Senegalese coloured troops, and possessing much of their militant fibre. The officers are invariably Frenchmen, also the majority of the n.c.o’s. Officers and men alike wear the übiquitous battledrcss. but with the distinctive French kepi in the case of the officers and red headdress like a large fez in the case of the men. Many of the officers are generously bearded. This Fighting French force has tremendous morale, which is heightened by the successful operations in which they have been engaged under General Freyberg. In the Van When the New Zealanders and the British armour and artillery comprising the force which was to breach the Tebaga gap left Medenine cn March 12 and proceeded to their assembly point in the desert, near El Chemal, the Fighting French were already ahead, and carried out two actions, the first at Ksarrhilane and then at El Outid. which was cleared of the enemy on the route of our advance. At Ksarrhilane the French were considerably assisted by R.A.F. low-flying aircraft, which played havoc with the Germans’ armoured forces opposing them, while at El Outid, New Zealand sappers assisted them by dealing with minefield obstruction, after the French had successfully dislodged the enemy from gun positions. As General Freyberg’s force moved up through Dahar. Hit? Fighting French cooperated. providing a protective flank screen, and continued (his role after the break-through at Tebaga gap and the advance on Gabes. Valuable Co-operation

During the fighting' for the gap, which began on March 21 and ended with a victorious thrust on March 26. the French operated in rough hilly country on the flanks, whore they were engaged in sharp brushes with Italians and Germans, capturing prisoners and equipment. Among the rough, arid gullies during this stage of the advance they were operating in difficult country, possessing the advantage of carefully prepared positions, tions. Their co-operating in this role was most valuable and played an important part in the success of the whole difficult operation. Sea Enthuses the Troops Many of the native soldiers forming the bulk of this French column had never seen the sea till they joined the Eighth Army in Tripoli!ania. and they were among the enthusiastic bathers when the pace of the pursuit temporarily slackened, and many men of the Eighth Army wore able to visit the beaches. Another section of Ihe Fighting French in the Middle East ts comprised of men drawn from the French colonies in Oceania, and particularly New Caledonia, where New Zealand troops arc now stationed. _