AUSTRALIAN ASSAULT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 June 1941, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN ASSAULT

A GALLANT SIGNALLER SWIM WITH TELEPHONE LINE Cairo, June 12. The storming of the Litani River line, south of Sidon, was one of the most gallant feats of arms the Australian Imperial Force has achieved, says the "Sydney Morning Herald” correspondent in Syria. The Victorian brigadier who directed the operation said: “It was one of the strongest defensive positions I have ever seen and beautifully organised. Their line consisted pf a series of linked strong-points, exceedingly well camouflaged, and very hard to locate. We had to winkle them out one by one.” The attack was launched at 9 o’clock at night. The French had blown-up the bridge* across the river, which is swiftflowing, but a small force of Australians had ferried themselves across in boats and succeeded in maintaining themselves in the north bank. Under cover of darkness, the remainder of the battalion ferried across the river, and reinforced their hardpressed comrades. They cleared the section on the northern bank of the river at the point of the bayonet, and established themselves in an orange orchard on the bank. A signaller, in spite of the swift current, gallantly swam across the river with a telephone line, giving the troops communication with the artillery. About midnight, sappers set to work to build a pontoon bridge, which they finally got across just before dawn. Another battalion then crossed the river by the bridge, together with a light mechanised force. The French holding the ridge commanding the river had a heavy concentration of mortars and machine-guns in skilfully-concealed strong posts, and pinned down our men to the river bank with a storm of fire.