NIGHT ACTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24757, 3 December 1943, Page 2

NIGHT ACTION

DOMINION INFANTRY OBJECTIVES TAKEN FIRST ITALIAN FIGHT CROSSING THE SANGRO (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) ITALY, Nov. '2B New Zealand infantry were among those who crossed the Sangro River and thrust well into enemy positions. The obstacles were many, but our men took them in their stride to complete what, is an amazing advance considering the difficulties of the terrain, ihe casualties were trivial. In complete darkness the men moved forward from positions they had occupied for some days between the road and the river. Ahead across gravel beds and the swiftly-flowing stream were the rising heights of the first objectives. As night wore on toward moining chilling rain and a rising river added to the hazards. The placing of our start line actually on the enemy side of the Sangro offered the advantage of a silent crossing. Heavy Artillery Barrage Preparations the previous night included running lines across the river and these proved invaluable as the swirling mountain water deepened during the night. Laden men found footholds slippery and the current caused some to lose their balance, but in silence the opposite side was won. On the starting line the sole interference came from a German machine-gun which fired a few ineffectual bursts before the crew decided that the place was unhealthy. Our own artillery barrage crashed and rolled from the mountain valleys ns the battalions commenced their slow, slogging advance. Iho eiicmv apparently had little liking fo'r the grim work in the darkness and rain for soon the first prisoners were taken. The main task in the blackness was to hold direction and. to make any progress at all over the slippery rock and mud, but amazinglv our troops contrived to do both and also to gather in many prisoners. Prisoners Become Problem These prisoners became a problem as the numbers grew, for soon one formation found itself burdened with 100 Germans and another with GO. The objectives fell quickly as the sky lightened and shortly after dawn success signals were being flashed to headquarters. Light found the troops firmly established on high ground facing still greater heights held bv the enemy, but with the formidable barrier of the Sangro behind them. Up to the time of writing no counterattack worthy of the name > has developed, though forward positions were subject to some mortar fire. An hour after dawn the men saw a direct gunhit on a boat intended for use by troops, but transport moves freely on a near by bridge, in spite of enemy air efforts. The infantry cheered this morning when a Messerschmitt was winged by a Spitfire, and there has been much more cheering this afternoon.