CAMPAIGN IN GREECE

Patea Mail, 14 May 1941, Page 3

CAMPAIGN IN GREECE

GREEK WITHDRAWAL COVERED BY NEW ZEALAND TROOPS A brave little force of mechanised cavalry, anti-tank mid field gunners and engineers may justly claim a large share of the credit for the success of the British withdrawal from Greece

so far as the New Zealand troops arc \ concerned. Isolated from the main force and constantly on the move it struck clusively at the Germans in mountain passes and open ground, delaying the enemy advance by probably a week in all and inflicting some 400

casualties. While the New Zealanders consolidated Olympus positions the cavalry force delved far northward of the Aliakmon River in extensive reconnaissance patrols and then was given the difficult task of hindering the German drive without becoming seriously engaged. Spreading along the bank of the Aliakmon the force shot up the Germans as they massed on the other side and attempted to push out pontoon bridges. NAZI SUICIDAL TACTICS Here the New Zealanders first witnessed the suicidal tactics of the German infantry. One trooper told mo: “They walked over crests and open ground as carelessly as if they were going to a football match. They cared nothing for field craft or concealment and we shot them down like rats, but they still kept coming on as though driven from behind. German sol.diers arc such easy meat that I don’t wonder they put their faith in tanks and aeroplanes. lam sure that with the aid of artillery support our fellows can lick them. ” About the same time two New Zealand: armoured ear crews recaptured the spirit of .the old horse cavalry in a glorious charge at a largo body of German troops at a roadside halt. They sped unharmed into a rain of fire and out again, leaving several enemy casualties. According to plan the cavalry fell back to Olympus, pausing again seriously to cheek .the enemy, who suffered further considerable losses. Will o the wisp tactics were so successful that the Germans probably believed the force to be a whole division and poured shells into vacant positions. With no time for rest the force was now assigned a still more difficult task as the rearguard of the main withdrawal. It lingered on the Olympus foothills and drove a wedge across the path advanced German dements were making for Larissa. Mobility and elusiveness again caused the enemy costly delay. Light armoured vehicles shot up troop carriers and even .engaged tanks from the sides. Anti-tank guns accounted for four tanlcs while an armoured ear crew brought a dive-bomber crashing to earth. HITLER RANKS THINNED Sent out like the cavalry on a special assignment a detachment of much-, ine gunners also left notable mark on the northern battleiields. Supporting the British forces in a delaying action down from the Yugoslav border it engaged the enemy during a week of rain and snow, when scores of “young giants’'’ fell before New Zealand gun posts. These proved to be members of the famous hand-picked Adolf Hitler Regiment, whose ranks must have been considerably thinned as our gunners caught them rebussing and uncovered .

’ Using the gun arrangement they perfected in the Western Desert, men of the same battalion shot a plane down into the sea," repeating the success claimed during - the voyage to Greece when bombers attached their transport.