DARING DEEDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24133, 27 November 1941, Page 8

DARING DEEDS

DOMINION TROOPS FALL OF CAPUZZO ENEMY. TAKES FRIGHT A BRILLIANT SUCCESS (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, Nov. 25 Capuzzo, 10 miles west of Solium and 15 miles south of BArdia,-fell to the New Zealanders at dawn on Friday, There were no known casualties. Many German and Italian prisoners were captured, but so far the numbers are not known. The great majority of the enemy fled. The brilliantly-conceived encircling movement was carried out at the end of the New Zealanders' northward move. When dawn came a South Island battalion inarched into Capuzzo. They were able to sit down to a hot breakfast already prepared by the fleeing and captured Huns. The battalion which captured Capuzzo was the same as that which was responsible for the brilliant counter-attack at CUlatos, in Crete. Pipe-Line and Wires Out The first objective after Capuzzo had been taken was to cut the pipeline from the big reservoir which feeds Solium and Hellfire Pass. That was done with all speed by a detachment of engineers, who were especially attached to this South Island battalion. That was their job, and their only job. Now Solium and Hellfire Pass are without water. Next in order of importance was the cutting of the telegraph and telephone wires communicating with Solium and Hellfire Pass. That was done just after the pipe-lino had been blown by the engineers under tho direction of a New Zealand brigadier. Enemy Flees in Alarm A South Island infantry unit, with supporting arms, pushed forward through the night to within a short distance of Capuzzo. Their way was pioneered by a Canterbury and a West Coast company. The company paving the way came under shellfire during the night, but the firing was spasmodic and inaccurate. They did a grand job of work, for just before dawn the way was open for the force to crash through and take Capuzzo by force, but that was unnecessary. The greater part of the enemy forces had fled in alarm. It was an easy victory, gained without striking a blow. Trouble in Soft Sand Meanwhile another New Zealand force was moving up toward Bardia. Their job was to cut the road between Bardia and Tobruk. Further west, out on the left flank, another New Zealand force was moving up fast to attack Gambut, four miles from the main Bardia-Tobruk road. Their job was to cut off transport coming along that road from either direction. Last night they encountered trouble. When they were moving in the dark on their drive north some of their vehicles ran into soft sand, and it took some time before they could be dug out and started on the move again. Pushing Onward Down below Capuzzo, about 10 miles to the south-west, there was a big concentration of enemy transport. An Auckland battalion was aiding the Indians in an attack on a locality known as Girba, where much enemy transport and tanks, both German and Italian, were concentrated. While that action was under way a Wellington battalion was pushing forward toward Bardia in an effort to get into the lower perimeter. The Maori Battalion had not been used yet, but their turn was to come later. When they did get into the fighting they were a brilliant success. In his desert tent, and sitting on a captured German field stool, a New Zealand brigadier told how proud he was of his troops. Outside the antiaircraft guns barked as German aeroplanes flew overhead. In the distance came the rumble of heavy artillery as a battery amused themselves shelling the fleeing German transport. So the first action of the New Zealanders in the Libyan campaign was a brilliant success. THE EARLY STAGES DRIVE NORTHWARD KEEN TO CONTACT ENEMY (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) ■ CAIRO, Nov. 23 After two days of comparative inactivity and impatience on the part of the troops, the New Zealand Division drove northward on Thursday as part of a brilliant strategic move. They had crossed the Libyan border on Tuesday, and their position, where they had a watching and waiting role, was about 40 miles from the sea. With a screen of divisional cavalry tanks out in front, the Division, in desert formation, felt its way forward on Thursday afternoon. From skyline to skyline, north, south and west, tho desert was an amazing mass of slowmoving transport of all kinds. Dozens of bombers and fighters roared overhead as the Division moved forward. They were bombing enemy tanks to make a way for us. It gave confidence to see these great aeroplanes of the Koyal Air Force, piloted by Australians, South Africans and Englishmen, roaring overhead. For the 55th time in two hours we are at a standstill. Over on the right flank comes the staccato crash of tanks and guns. On we go, but before we have covered another mile we are halted again. The crash of heavy artillery fire comes from tho right flank. Crack Indian troops are watching things over there. Daylight is fading fast and all the trucks are converging on the centre, corning in from the Hanks and coming up from the rear. It is too risky to remain in desert formation at night. The risk of trucks being lost is too great, so now the trucks are moving almost mudguards to mudguards and front bumper to tail light. Time passes and word comes that we are to stop for tho night in 20 minutes. The troops are bedded down in the desert and asleep. The only sound is tho movement of sentries and the occasional murmur of the voices of men on anti-aircraft guns. Before the first glimmer of dawn the Division was dispersing and when light came troops and trucks were scattered for miles around the desert. After this amazing drive northward of miles and miles the New Zealanders are not far from tho coast. They are on .their toes wondering what the day will, bring forth and hoping that once again they tcan get to grips with the enemy,'