HEAVY GOING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1942, Page 3

HEAVY GOING

IN ROUGH AND BROKEN COUNTRY NEW ZEALANDERS’ DESERT PURSUIT. CONTACT KEPT WITH ENEMY. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) NOFILI A, December 18. Another wide desert sweep yesterr day brought our forces west of N.ofilia which had been evacuated by the enemy. On reaching a point a few miles south of the road yesterday afternoon, our forward columns were shelled by the enemy rearguard, but continued to advance to closer, quarters. Heavy going in rough and broken country made progress slow, and in the meantime enemy columns could be seen proceeding west along" the road. They were out of machine-gun range, but artillery harassed them and also silenced several guns. The infantry debussed, but had not proceeded far when they found the way barred by tanks. Though these tanks were present till early this morning, during the night some infantry formations mined the roadway to prevent the passage of any further enemy transport. Three anti-tank guns were destroyed and casualties inflicted. Our casualties have been light. , . „ These desert moves are becoming more and more eventful. During yesterday’s advance, which was of about 50 miles, our columns passed forward of the guns which were shelling tank formations engaged by our armoured forces. Enemy tanks only a short distance away were burning furiously, heavy smoke gathering into a dark pall over the area. , A largo batch of prisoners captured in this engagement sat watching guns, tanks and infantry transport 101 l past. As the afternoon progressed, it was obvious that there was a strong enemy force ahead. Occasional shells fell ineffectively among our columns. More guns were run through to the front, and we passed them as they fired at an enemy we could not see. Then through glasses could be seen his gun-flashes and retreating forces on the roadway. The enemy’s shelling became more concentrated as a prominent ndgetop was reached, but it was never intense and the results were negligible. We halted, while infantry went to their task and guns continued to blaze. Word went round: ‘"We bed down here. Pass it on.” By sunset, artillery fire had died down and the quiet of a perfect moonlit night was broken only by occasional bursts of machine-gun fire Not far from our last location is Merdum aerodrome where some of our engineers remained to clear it oi mines and booby-traps. So effectively had the enemy done his work that he caught several of his own trucks ana one Mark Four special tank. Sappers have been engaged on similar woik at Marble Arch aerodrome.