THE OFFICIAL STORY.

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

THE OFFICIAL STORY.

ADVANCE OF NEW ZEALANDERS

WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. The- following additional special message has been received from the Now Zealand War Correspondent, under date September 22:—

"During the fighting oii our left mentioned in my last .telegram, an enemy trench was entered in silence and under cover of darkness without much difficulty. The New Zealanders then round thar, their left was thinly held by Scottish troops, who had to fall' back. s This allowed the Germans to attack fiercely. Bomb fighting was very bitter, and the trenches were soon littered with the de-ad of both sides.

After being driven back twice, the Canterbury men finally succeeded in capturing a trench just before dawn. 'Fighting was strenuous alLthrough the night. By aggressive action, we cleared the enemy right off his position, and tit oneo proceeded to consolidate it. Ono captain particularly distinguished himself, showing splendid courage and energy. Ho continually rallied tho tired and' discouraged mon, and led them personally.. "The Army" Commander promptlywired his congratulations, and stated that the troops deserved 'every credit for . their gallantry and p'erscveraiice. ■ ' \ "The Corps Commander, in.another message of congratulation, -.stated that 'the repeated' attacks by the Canterbury mon, renewed and delivered with such energy and determination, spoke highly of the fine fighting-qualities of all ranks.' He particularly desired to oxpross to the Colqnel-in-Command his appreciation'of their sound conception of the plan, and to "the-captain who led tho men his admiration of Ins gallantry and his courageous leading of the New Zealanders. who continue fighting with dash and bravery in tho Somrne battlo. t ■ 'The Gomma:idor-in-Chief; telegraphed his appreciation and congratulations. The Corps' Commander on the right also forwarded his congratulations, speeialiv referring to the assistanco rendered to^iis corps,, during the we liold our line, but havc-als.? protected posii.ions to tue ri^ht and loft outside of our own area. Last night there was fiorca ugbtmg on our leftt^The Canterbury Battahon drove theVncmy irorn their trench. B enemy counter-attacked furiously, but cu'iored heavy losses. We counted ,300 of their dead, and took 22 prisoners. •'During the last 18 hours ■ our arwlr. lery has done magnificent-work. In thedarkness arid through mud and ram mi heavy shelling, they shifted their Wtrrtos "forward - into action .-_oyev. oround fu:l of craters, and by nu.l-dav ve*tordav almost till the guns were, m position.* and: had w-gistercxL Che batteries were- shelling ■ beautifully-,- the shells bursting in a row on tbo enemy linos. , • ■Tho m->dijal service proved to no I stvond to none. The stretfeher-bearers who wvra first out did heroic work. At one stage, the ambulance transport e^•en left tholr waggons and horses under a guard, took spare stretchers .off their waggons, and made- their way to the battalion aid post, whence they assisted in conveying the Riilo Brigade wounded under shell-fire and over difficult roads to the field dressing .station. The Director of .Medical Service of the Army and the Director of the Medical Service of the '\ rmy Corps expressed groat satisfaction,' stating that their organisation and ovacu'ttion were pplondjd, and tha-t all the casualty cleaving .stations had

reported the treatment of the v/bunderl received throii^li the. !Nov; Zealand IViodiuil Oc.q>C 10 any-ihiug previously seen. :\\>A noi ;; single caso had got througii wit!:ou-t iwiti-totanus scrum treatment. "Other branches oC our force aro ■doing'excellent work. The transport have ovoro^mo extraordinary diificulties. Engineers and Proneors, undei; ndverse weather conditions and shellfirej aro rendering valuabfe services. Tl.h- tjuntcen has been established in a position well forwai-d. "But above ami boyond all this ono's greatest admii-ation must bo i'or tho spJt'iidid herois;n and dash of tho infantry. Thov went iisifiinuhiiigly through all the terror of titjclimtj battle with an absolute :?nn tiMiioi i'or tho fiowor of tho Co-man Army, v.nd gained i.ho farthest points in the enemy's linos."'