CAPTURE OF COURCELLETTE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3563, 25 September 1916, Page 5

CAPTURE OF COURCELLETTE.

CANADIANS' AMAZING FEAT.

(Received September 25, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, September 24.. Mr Philip Gibbs writes:—The Canadians' capture of Courcellette was one of the, most astounding things in the battle. After tho sugar refinery had been taken, the unwounded officers held a conference as to the, possibility of taking Courcellette. All seemed quiet I in the ruins, but no one knew the size ! of the garrison, though an occasional burst of machine gun tire showed that defenders remained, and it was manifest that it wa,s a big adventure for the fag-end of tho d*iy. However, the conference decided to try, and the honour of leading the attack was given to tne "■ Mop-up J? battalion, composed largely of FrenchCanadians. It waa afterwards discovered that there-were in tho village 15,500 Germans, who greatly outnumbered the

stormers. . Tiny parties of Canadians dashea into dug-outs full 'of Germans. One boy brought up 20 prisoners. Two Gorman colonels were greatly chagrined to find they had surrendered to such a small force of attackers;

The enemy made ' seven counterattacks in tho night. Things often looked black, but the Canadian ' boys came through.