GERMAN PARA-TROOPS

Southland Times, Issue 24829, 22 August 1942, Page 5

GERMAN PARA-TROOPS

Presence In North Africa

(Rec. 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. Reuter’s correspondent at El Alamein says that New Zealanders who advanced after pounding an enemy outpost a few, nights ago found it vacated, except for a wounded German wearing a Luftwaffe uniform. He claimed to belong to an enemy parachute regiment normally mustering about 2000 men. This is the first occasion on which such a regiment has been reported from the North African front.

Another of our patrols found some enemy interest in routes leading to the oasis of Mogra, which is one of the desert’s most isolated spots. FieldMarshal Erwin Rommel apparently is determined not to be outflanked, even from the most unlikely direction.

WOUNDED SOLDIER’S CHALLENGE N.Z. Patrol In Desert (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) WESTERN DESERT, August 19. “Halt! Who goes there?” came the challenge in a firm voice from the ground as a New Zealand patrol returned towards its lines two nights ago. “Friend,” was the reply.

It was then that the patrol saw him—stoical New Zealander, terribly rounded, with his rifle raised in a lenacing attitude. He had been one of patrol which, returning earlier, had ncountered field anti-personnel mines, ome had already been wounded when, fter penetrating 500 yards within the nemy lines, they came under heavy lachine-gun fire. The mines inflicted irther casualties, but the wounded elped the wounded and the survivors eached our lines. So extensive were one man’s wounds lat it was thought he must be dead, lut the man lived and had strength and etermination enough to deliver a chalmge when he heard the approach of le second patrol, which might easily ave been the enemy. This patrol rought him back to our positions, from fliich, after treatment, he was evacuted to hospital.