BAIT FOR GUNS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23994, 18 June 1941, Page 7

BAIT FOR GUNS

DASH BY CAVALRY ENEMY POINTS REVEALED INFANTRY TENSE SPECTATORS SYDNEY, June 15 I watcher! a gallant move by Australian cavalry to draw fire from suspected areas, while Australian ' artillery stood by with their guns ready to crash in shells at each new point revealed, cabled the Australian official war correspondent from the vicinity of Merjiyun, Syria, a few days ago. The infantry were ready to press home the advantage if the situation justified an attack. The day was hot and the sun blazed down as tho cavalry's carriers and one light tank moved forward toward a peaceful-looking s.'ope. Some hundreds of yards apart they sped, disappearing from our view over a bank in the rond. Instinctively our eyes turned to those few acres where wo knew trouble lay. Sure enough, in a split second flame after flame flashed, followed, what seemed to be a minute after, by a crashing shrill noise—antitank guns. "They've got them," came a shout from the men all around, as the antitank gun area belched up dust and bits of more solid objects. Our artillery had got the range, and hell descended over those few acres. But our eyes were on the road again. Where were the cavalry? At last they came, carrier alter carrier streaking down the road. One, two, three —on went the anxious count. Two were still missing. Again some delay and up past us came the first, on the flat-out. Lying on top was the figure of a, boy. All eyes were on him, as he went bygiving the "thumbs np" sign. His arm was a red flame of blood, while across his shirtfront more blood flowed. There was not a murmur from the waiting infantry, but it. was a sight I would wager most there will remember when a lot of this war is forgotten. On thundered the guns, but for the moment the infantry attack was off. "That spot will get a thorough going over from the guns before the boys go in," said an infantry captain.

LOCAL RESISTANCE

OPINION AMONG FRENCH j ONLY FEW ANTI-BRITISH j LONDON, June 17 According to the Ankara correspondent of the Times, the Turks estimate that 10 per cent of the French officers in Syria are anti-British. They are mostly naval men and officers of the 17th Senegalese Regiment, fighting south of Beirut. Twenty per cent are in favour of General de Gaulle. They are mostly airmen. The remaining 70 per cent are equally divided between those obeying Vichy's orders and those wavering. The resistance of the local garrisons depends entirely on the feelings of the officers. This produces curious incidents. For example, the British column advancing from Irak along the TurkishSyrian border has an accompanying French column composed of small garrisons which refused to fight. The men of the two columns freely fraternise. The Daily Express correspondent at Sidon says the villagers everywhere are very friendly, supplying food, water and fodder. AUSTRALIAN ASSAULT A GALLANT SIGNALLER SWIM WITH TELEPHONE LINE CAIRO, June \'2 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 of a series of linked strong-points, exceedingly well camouflaged, and very hard to locate. We had to winkle fhem out one by one." The attack was launched at 9 o'clock at night. The French had blown up the bridges across the river, which is swiftflowing, but a small force of Australians had ferried themselves across in boats and succeeded in maintaining themselves on 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 hank 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 mortal*- and machine-guns iu skilfully-concealed strong posts, and pinned down our men to tho river bank with a storm of fire.

TOMAHAWK FIGHTERS AUSTRALIANS DELIGHTED CAIRO, June 17 Australian pilots in Syria are dolighted with the American Tomahawk lighters, of which Britain already has received over 1000. They declare that, the new cannon armament, is greatly superior to the machine-guns with which the fighters were originally equipped.

STORAGE OF FOOD

PLAN IN HONOLULU HONOLULU. June IT Army officials have disclosed plans for tho construction of a huge food storage tunnel 600 feet long equipped with its own power and water on Oaliu Island, Hawaii, on which Honolulu is situated. It can he used as an emergency air-raid shelter and tho cost is estimated at 750,000 dollars. Construction begins on August 1, and it will take till September to completo.