ON EQUAL TERMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24134, 28 November 1941, Page 8

ON EQUAL TERMS

INFANTRY IN ACTION 400 PRISONERS TAKEN NEW ZEALANDERS' PART (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, Nov. 20 Comparatively small enemy activity, due to the relentless work of the Bojal j\ir Force, has given the New Zealanders for the first time an oppoituriity to fight an action on equal terms with the Germans, it is their infantiy against ours, and so far the Germans are a very bad second. They were caught on the hop and have been kept on the hop ever since. All day to-day, November 22, New Zealand infantry units have hammered the German lines. The troojis, which are now near the inner perimeter of Bardia, successfully repulsed two German counter-attacks during the day and are in as strong a position as ever. Half a Dozen Casualties Fought on the wide, open desert, which affords practically no cover from either fire or view, this extraordinary action lias so far failed to cause more than half a dozen casualties to the New Zealanders. With swiftly changing events, the British attack takes on a different aspect hourly. _ _ , Place names mean little in this astonishing campaign. Capuzzo, taken only this morning, is to-night forgotten. Whereas Greece and Crete were for the New Zealanders a tragedy and a debacle, the boot is on the German foot with a vengeance. This time, with great aeroplanes of the 11 oval Air Force, fighters and bombers, racing across the skies, the morale of the New Zealanders has reached new heights and they are fighting with that speed and determination so necessary to carry them on to victory. All units are carrying out bold tactical moves, but thev have succeeded to date because of audacity combined with skill. Prisoners of Poor Type German prisoners I saw to-day admitted that both thev and the Italians had been taken by surprise. Their stories merely confirmed what took place at Capuzzo early this morning, when a South Island infantry battalion was able to eat a hot breakfast left by fleeing Germans and Italians. The taken to date, both German and Italian, are of a poor type. Many of the Germans are extremely young, several admitting that they were only 19. Their uniforms were old and shabby; They and the Italians were a dejected lot," wearing tattered drill uniforms and ill-fitting greatcoats. Captured Equipment Masses of German equipment have been captured. All day long equipment has been coming through. Late this afternoon a German battalion commander's car arrived. Lashed to the radiator was a gold-painted horseshoe. On the side was a swastika shaded by a palm. tip till noon to-day the total number of prisoners captured by the New Zealanders was 400. When darkness came to-night the battle of the New Zealand infantry continued with the vigour and determination that characterised the New Zealanders' efforts all day. , Flashes of shellfire lit the skies and ■ told of New Zealand artillery pounding i the German lines.