HILLTOP BATTLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25214, 1 May 1943, Page 5

HILLTOP BATTLE

GALLANTRY OF INDIANS GERMAN ATTACK REPULSED (Rec. 8 p.m.) RUGBY, Apl. 29. One of the bloodiest encounters of the war which was fought by the Fourth Indian Division a few days ago on a hilltop north of Enfidaville, is described by a commentator. The battle reached a tremendous crescendo when a battalion of Punjabis pushing along the crest of the mountain, encountered a strong German position and called for an artillery barrage. Then advancing under heavy shell fire, tno Punjabis stormed one line of German fortified emplacements only to face a second tine equally strong a couple of hundred yards ahead. The Germans laid down a heavymortar barrage and mustered for the attack. The Indian troops were sufficiently close to hear the enemy shouting war cries. The Indians themselves raised a great shout “ Punjabis! ” Both our own and the enemy's barrages iincreased and the whole position became enveloped in blinding dust and smoke. Then the Germans charged with bayonets. The Punjabis stood firm and then sprang to meet the enemy. It was a very bloody battle, with attacks and counter-attacks of mounting violence. but the enemy could not loosen the grip of our men upon the vital mountain top. . . Afterwards one of the Punjabis said: “ I have seen two years of desert fighting but I have never seen anything like the 30 minutes during which we went surging through clouds of dust, shooting and stabbing, until there were no Germans left, except those lying on the ground.”