BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25625, 28 August 1944, Page 4

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

AIR SERVICE PARATROOPS OPERATIONS ’ REVEALED (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 26. Light has at last been thrown on the surprising lack of effective German resistance in France once their lines were breached. It was disclosed in London that this was partly the result of the comprehensive British and French campaign waged behind the German lines long before the breakthrough . of the main army occurred. In a great measure the success of the breakthrough was due to this campaign, which wrought havoc to the Germans from. one end of France to the' other. Great credit is due to the Maquis, but there has been another body at work, independently inside France, whose identity until recently was kept secret —namely, the British unit of parachutists called the Special Air Service. It was largely owing to the panic and chaos which these small groups of specialists wrought deep behind the enemy lines that the triumphant advance of the United States Third Army to Paris was made possible. •

The Special Air Service was conceived and created by two young offi-cers.-Lieutenant David Stirling, of the Scots Guards and Commandos, and Lieutenant “ Jock ” of the Welsh Guards and Commandos.

The Special Air Service operated effectively in North Africa, and other theatres, but its existence was kept secret, and it was never mentioned in communiques. Lieutenant Lewis, who became a major, was killed by a chance shot from a German Diane in North Africa, and Lieutenant Stirling, who became a colonel, was taken prisoner in Southern Tunisia in an operation effecting a link between the Eighth and First Armies there.

The Special Air Service was given the honour of starting the invasion in Sicily, .and played an important part in the invasion of Italy. Colonel Mayne took command when Colonel Stirling was taken prisoner.