NARROW ESCAPE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24800, 27 December 1941, Page 6

NARROW ESCAPE

GENERAL FREYBERG AND STAFF GERMAN TANK ATTACK (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) CAIRO, Dec. 23. With machine-gun bullets whistling all about them, and German infantry only 200 yards away, Major-general B. C. Freyberg and his staff evaded capture by seconds when the Germans drove a wedge through the New Zealand forces on the morning of December 1. The previous night the majority of divisional headquarters had driven up the corridor into the comparative safety of Tobruk. This move, earned out late on Sunday night, had been preceded by two days of continuous shelling and mortar fire from the enemy. Only a skeleton staff, comprising the G.O.C. and his personal staff, the liaison officers, and staff officers, was left behind as the battle headquarters of the New Zealand Division. Under cover of night battle headquarters was moved over towards the headquarters of a New Zealand Infantry Brigade. When morning came the Germans continued the tank attack which they started the night before. Tank shells and machine ,gun bullets were crashing around the battle headquarters thick and fast. Alongside an armoured car stood Major-general Freyberg watching through fleldglasses as the Germans advanced. A heavy German machine-gun bullet crashed into a tank alongside. He glanced casually at the hole aild then continued to study the advance. Closer and closer came the tanks, with German infantry riding on them. The New Zealand defences could not arrest the steady progress of the tanks, and when they were 200 yards away it was decided to make a final dash and withdraw. Into staff cars and trucks hastily jumped the personnel of battle headquarters. Seconds later they were racing east across the desert, followed by a stream of machine-gun fire from the German tanks. Ballet holes were discovered in the general’s car when the party stopped out of range of German fire.