UNIQUE ACTION

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21415, 8 May 1941, Page 2

UNIQUE ACTION

ARTILLERY UNITS COVERING RETREAT FALLING BACK ON ATHENS (X.Z.E.F. O/nclal News Service. CAIRO, May 6 At Olympus and Thermopylae New Zealand artillery regiments carried out rearguard actions which are probably unique in artillery history. At Olympus field artillery units actually covered the retreat of infantry. Overcoming tremendous odds, they got their guns out. Covering demolitions and amazing road blocks by New Zealand Engineers made it possible to withdraw the guns to the Thermopylae area, south of Lamia. Under cover of night, 25-pound guns withdrew. They passed right through the infantry, who held up the Hun advance into Thessaly while they consolidated their new line in the Thermopylae area. By performing brilliant leapfrogging tactics the artillery were able to cover the withdrawal of our infantry into southern Greece and at the same time managed to cause tremendous German losses in tanks, motor equipment and personnel. Our big guns dominated the essential river crossing, preventing reconstruction of the bridge which our engineers had already destroyed. When our shells hit German tanks a stream of molten metal poured from the blazing wreck which remain. Time For Last Stand Again it was a question of a timed withdrawal and if our flanks could have been maintained our guns could have held the German advance almost indefinitely. The forward guns were dragged back behind the second line of guns. However, each leap back meant the loss of more guns. They were falling back on Athens and the time came for a last stand. Infantry protection for the guns was withdrawn. The guns were spiked and engineers carried out a brilliant series of demolitions and blocking tactics, which held up the advancing Huns and enabled the artillery to evacuate almost the whole of their remaining personnel. Generally speaking the artillery losses were remarkably small for the work which they did, and the punishment they received from divebombers. It must be borne in mind that throughout these operations German reconnaissance aeroplanes and spotting aircraft were able to hover unhindered over our gun positions.