Strange Close-Range N.Z.E.F. Patrol Clash

Northern Advocate, 15 December 1943, Page 5

Strange Close-Range N.Z.E.F. Patrol Clash

(Official N.Z.E.F. War Correspondent) EIGHTH ARMY FRONT, Dec. 4. A group of German infantry caught relaxing in the morning sunshine in front of an Italian farmhouse, began one of the strangest of all close-range battles fought out by advanced New Zealand patrols, as they struck deep into defences that were intended to be the enemy’s winter line beyond the Sangro River. Three New Zealand Dingo scout cars, ahead of one of our North Island armoured formations, were probing their way along a winding side road behind the over-run front line of the German defences. They were, watching the road for mines and the only activity about them seemed friendly. It was a peaceful valley of small farms and along the way Italian civilians rushed from their houses to wave and cheer the New Zealanders and toss flowers on them. They passed another farmhouse and looked back at three figures sitting comfortably in a garden. They were Germans. Sunbathing “They were enjoying the sun, and fortunately for us, they were as surprised as we were,” the officer leading the patrol said today. “For a few seconds they did not seem to recognise us. As I struggled to get our Bren-gun lined on them, they dived into the house and opened fire on us. Firing as they went, the New Zealanders backed out their cars along the road which by then was being showered with ma-chine-gun fire from houses and German hill defences behind them. Within a few minutes the New Zealand scout cars had returned headed then by a group of their heavy American tanks. Supported by heavy armoured cars, Bren carriers and tanks rushed on beyond these enemy f.trcng-points driving a wedge between them and the German main line infantry further back in the hills. Sight of Tanks Enough

“The sight of our tanks is enough for most German infantry,” a New Zealand scout car commander said. "They disappeared everywhere into trees. We were annoyed tit having missed them the first time \ve came along the road, so set after Ihem on foot. •‘The New Zealanders chased them with machine-guns and rifles and after a few wild skirmishes through houses and olive groves, at least eight enemy infantry were rounded up. With only infantry weapons to defend the area themselves against our armoured vehicles, the Germans were all soon forced to withdraw or go into hiding. By nightfall our tanks and infantry behind them had captured yet another Italian village.

This incident was one of many on our sector of the Eighth Army’s front which all showed that, though they had made elaborate preparations to hold this winter line, the Germans became completely disorganised once our infantry attacks thrust through their main defences. Only extremely difficult hilly country which restricted almost all vehicle and tank movement to roads and tracks prevented the New Zealanders from rolling the enemy back many more miles into the north.