The Desert Rats Page #3

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Cheerful sort of a bloke.

What's an English officer

doing with Aussie troops?

The last time l heard,

we were still on the same side.

Now, listen, stow the chatter, mate,

and get on that banjo.

- What's your field of fire, Mr Carstairs?

- Full 180, sir.

- Better clear for a full circle.

- Behind us?

Yes. The Afrika Korps is not

committed to frontal attack.

- Yes, sir.

- Ammunition?

- The men are bringing it now.

- (aeroplane overhead)

Better get plenty.

That's practically your entire air support.

Bit free with the rough side

of his tongue, your pal.

Yeah. l must have a word with him.

He's right about 'em getting in behind us.

Let's get it cleared away.

- All right.

- On your feet, digger.

- (in German) General von Helmhotz.

- Coffee. Helmholtz!

The weather observer has something.

Schmidt! Put it down here.

High-pressure area here,

low pressure here. Easterly wind.

- And this?

- Sandstorm in the direction of Tobruk.

- Sandstorm? Sandstorm.

- Yes, sir.

- A strong sandstorm.

- Thank you. You can go.

- The tanks attack with the storm.

- Pardon, sir?

Use the sandstorm. lmmediately. Go!

Ulrich!

That's a sandstorm all right. Moving fast.

Right.

(phone rings)

Roger. lt's a sandstorm all right.

- Will they attack under cover of it?

- Wouldn't you?

Get me Colonel White.

Yes.

l see. Thank you, MacRoberts.

Same thing, sir. Sandstorm.

Mm-hm. He'll come in with it.

lt may even work for us.

Tank men can't hear anything.

Now they won't see much either.

(wind howling)

(rumbling)

- What's up?

- Tanks! l hear them!

Tank! D'you see it?

There's more than one of them.

Carstairs, sir. Tanks moving across our front,

bearing 65 degrees, about 1,000 yards out.

- Have you double-checked that direction?

- Yes, with the perimeter observers.

Doesn't look as if

they'd attack where we thought.

No, it doesn't.

Tell your commanders

it may be necessary to shift our forces.

- And get Colonel White here immediately.

- Yes, sir.

Remember now,

you're under orders not to fire!

lf they don't attack here,

my guns will be useless.

- And it will take me time to move them, sir.

- Uh-huh.

- Mechanised equipment ready to move.

- All right, hold them.

Yes, sir.

Sir, don't you think we'd

better shift along with them?

Nope.

They're turning. Coming down on us.

Now remember, hold your fire!

Column's turning! Coming in!

- Coming right over us.

- Get that gun off!

Under here, Tom.

Tom, get under here!

Tom, what's the matter with you?

(man) The old man was right after all!

- Attention. Alert your artillery, Barney.

- Yes, sir.

- Let me know when the tanks fan out.

- Very well.

- What about fire discipline?

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