DESERT FIGHTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24346, 7 August 1942, Page 4

DESERT FIGHTING

NEW ZEALAND TEOOPS FIVE WEEKS OF ACTION (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, July 31 After five weeks of fighting the New Zealanders are installed as a solid link in the chain of defence of Egypt. They have fought desperately hard, and have suffered losses, but losses not nearly as heavy as those inflicted on the enemy. Minquar Quaim, 25 miles south of Mersa Matruh, was the first big action in which the New Zealanders were involved after their return to the desert. There is not the slightest doubt that the brilliant delaying action they fought that Saturday five weeks ago, when they beat off five vicious .panzer attacks, contributed much to the Bth Army's defence. When they had broken through a ring of German armour, the New Zealanders became completely mobile. They were formed into hard-hitting battle groups, and they hit at every opportunity, to their own delight and the discomfort of Rommel's forces on the southern section of El Alamein. ThtNew Zealanders were never static for more than two or three days. For weeks these mobile columns cracked hard at Rommel, and they brought the week of activity to a climax with a devastating attack against Mussolini's Pavia division. When it was over 42 field guns of the Pavia division and several hundred prisoners were in their hands. Throughout this period they were being heavily attacked by Axis divebombers. Magnificent Gunners Magnificent work was done by the New Zealand "ack-ack" gunners, who have shot down more than a score of enemy planes, and also by all our artillery. The anti-tank gunners and the men who man our 25-pounders have been a constant nightmare to Rommel. German and Italian prisoners admitted that. Then came the move of the New Zealanders to the central section, a vital sector of the Alamein front. It was on that sector that they shared with the Indians in General Auchinleck's major attack. At Ruweisak Ridge, against the terrific combined fire of the Axis artillery, anti-tank mortars and machine-guns, the New Zealanders carried out a typically brilliant night attack. By dawn they had all their objectives. Enemy pockets were necessarily left behind in the darkness. So next day they were engaged in cleaning up these pockets of resistance. All through that day they were intermittently bombed and solidly shelled. They had advanced six miles during the previous night, to find themselves holding positions on the Ruweisak Ridge without artillery support, which had been cut off. Brigadier's Two Escapes Later in the afternoon the Germans launched a solid tank attack. The New Zealanders fought with everything they had, but they could not match the weight of the German armour. A brigade headquarters was overrun. Twice a brigadier, a former All Black from Canterbury, was captured, and twice he escaped. Next day the New Zealanders had quickly reorganised and established their front. Successful night patrols and artillery support of an attack launched by the Indians were their main activities during the following week. Sappers had a busy time demolishing captured enemy guns. A week to the night, the New Zealanders were in another major engagement. It was a familiar story—bayonets, tommyguns, grenades, and stickv-bombs_ by night. Their objective was past a minefield which the engineers lifted under heavy fire. Ali through the advance there was stubborn enemy resistance with antitank guns, machine-guns and mortars. Before a terrific barrage from the NewZealand 25-pounders and supporting British medium field artillery, the NewZealand infantry advanced. While the advance went on the enemy threw in fierce counter-attacks. Fight With Tanks The Ntw Zealanders drove on and reached their objectives. German tank formations, hull down in a depression, blazed furiously at our anti-tank guns, which one by one were put out of action. The infantry fought a desperate battle against hopeless odds. Again a brigadier was captured, and again he escaped. He worked for a day under our own shellfire as a stretcher-bearer, and when night came he led his small party back to the New Zealand lines. Since then the New Zealanders have not been engaged in any major action, and they have been comparatively free from the swoops of Stukas. With the co-operation of British forces they created a useful diversion when United Kingdom, Australian, and South African troops carried out their raid on the noithern sector a week ago. Shells continue to crash over the New Zealand lines—but we send back more than come over. NEXT LIBERTY LOAN ADVANCE SUBSCRIPTIONS (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Thursday The acting-Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, announced tonight that, in order to meet requirements of investors, and in anticipation of the issue of another Liberty Loan, advance subscriptions for £lO or multiples of that sum, will be received by the Reserve Bank, or any trading bank or post or money order office, as from Monday, August 10. When making advance subscriptions, subscribers are asked to indicate whether short or long-term stock is desired, and when the terms of the loan are announced later in the year, the advance subscribers will have the option of confirming or changing the term of the stock required, or of .altering or withdrawing the amount of the subscription. Where subscriptions are withdrawn, no interest will be payable, but where they are confirmed, interest at the rate or rates decided for the loan will be payable as from the date of the advance subscription. "It is hoped," said Mr. Fraser. "that investors will take advantage of this opportunity to assist in the war effort and of insuring that the coming issue of the liberty Loan will be an outstanding success."