MASS BARRAGES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 5 January 1945, Page 3

MASS BARRAGES

USE IN MIDDLE EAST ARTILLERY’S BIG CONTROBUTION Though the story had to be coaxed out of kiiu, and then only in answer to questions. a recently returned officer, Major H. T. W. Nolan, of Papatoetoe, who served with the headquarters, Divisional Artillery, 2nd N.Z.E.F., said the most notable contribution of the New Zealand artillery was that it was probably t.he first to adopt the present «ysieiu of a divisional barrage as against tiring by three in(iepehdeui regiments. This was introduced by the brigadiers concerned during the Battle for Egypt. The practice led to the immense barrages suuseqUciiily put up to support a big attack. The lirst such barrage was tired at I£l Aiamein ou October 23, 15H2. If an attack was being put on in which the New Zealanders were participating they supplied the trace, or plan of tire, for the whole troops eugaged. The New Zealand. Divisional Artillery had probably seen more action (ban any other artillery formation of the British Army, others which had beeu notable being the 4th Indian Division, the oOlh Division, and tin* ill) Armoured Division. Brigadier Miles was lirst C.K.A. of the divisional artillery (later captured, escaped to Spain,, where he died), then Brigadier O. K. NVeir (now major-general, commanding a British unit;, and now Brigadier U. Quaroc. The last-named two had been exceptionally young commanders. Comparing British and German artillery, Major Nolan said that the latter practically did not exist in the early stages. The Gormans were then largely putting their faith in dive-bombers; they used very few large concent rations of artillery whereas the British, including the New Zealanders, employed tremendous concentrations. The Germans had one gun, the 170 mm., which was a tine weapon. It had a high velocity shell which lose before it could be heard coming, resulting in a great moral effect on those being a!tacked. What artillery shooting the Germans did was accurate As to the respective merits of dive-bombing and artillery, » predicted Artillery shoot was deadly accurate whereas dive-bombing could be very inaccurate. Every time prisoners were questioned after an attack, they complained of the effect of the artillery barrages and how dazed they were. The Germans were tough fighters and had to be dug out of every position. Major XClan, who is 28, left New Zealaud with the second echelon in May, 1*340, as a subaltern. He had previously held a Territorial commission with the ISth Battery, at Auckland. From January to August. 11)44. he attended the Staff College. Camberley, England, two officers having been selected for this from the New Zealand Division. Here. It is interesting to recall that in a lecture at Camberley last year, the commandant, Major-General Wimberley, who formerly commanded the 51st Division. commented on an action in which the New Zealand Division took part and said that the high success of this action was simply due to the contribution of the New Zealand Divisional Artillery, made possible by the experience it had behind it. Fine Defensive Country. The area where the fighting was taking place in Italy was probably the finest del ‘elusive country in the world, said Captain D. R. PI urn tree, M.M., and Lieutenant H. Falwasser (brother of A. Falwasser, Hie All Black), both of New Plymouth. The topography abounded in natural obstacles and, in the winter, weather conditions combined to make tough going. The German troops there were a mixture of first-class ami not so good. But wherever the New Zealanders were, the good troops seemed to be opposite them. Young Germans taken prisoner still ihought their country would win; the olde.r men had “had it.” While they admitted that the experience of other New Zealanders might be different, their impression of the Italians was that tbev wanted to be On the winning side. Bulldozer in Warfare. Warrant Officer ( ij) Colin Wilson, 8.E.M., of Wbangarei. spoke of the bulldozer in warfare. His unit of engineers was equipped with these machines. They went ahead of tanks over blasted country, filling up holes.-brushing aside demolition debris and abandoned vehicles lying in the line of the advance. Whereas in other times scores of men with picks and shovels would have been clearing a track one bulldozer with one driver did the job, often tinder fire. Many drivers had been decorated. He recalled the admiration of the infantry at Castle Hill, during the Monte Cnssino battle, as they watched a solitary bulldozer clearing a track under heavy shellfire. He had found the Italians in the small towns and village? very friendly. The Women were admirably carrying on work of all kinds, even when shells were flying Gther men expressed themselves as highly pleased with the replacement system, though when they had left only bare details had been known to them. Though the position might now have been remedied, when they left the men were wanting to know the fullest particulars of the scheme and how it affected them on their returi) to civilian life.