CAPTURE OF THIEPVAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3567, 29 September 1916, Page 5

CAPTURE OF THIEPVAL.

(MIMUSON THROWN INTO A PANIC. ;.;

PARIS. September--28 , The attack on Thiopval began .at noou. A regiment advancing northwards From Ovillors struck tho southern side and carried portion of the Leipzig, redoubt. Other contingents came iron; Aiouquot- Farm, and the hill neat;, the Albeit high road. Our nien were irresistible in their ."impetuosity,' a.nd plunged into the ruined village by the .''oJiiort-s l.W»d- '■ Heavy curtain" hre prevented the bringing up of enemy reinforcements from the .Boaycourt fortified system. Thiepval covered a square mile of . ground, and -the .attackers found that the underground galleries had resisted tho bombardment of the heaviest k guns and howitzers. Each collar had been' strengthened with ste.el armour and concrete until it \v;is a small fortress. Many gallories had been fitted with lifts, by, which the machine-guns were instantly lifted into position. ■ Fortunately, tho defence was less determined than had been expected. Thirteen hundred prisoners have already come' to the base. They confirm the reports that tho garrison was surprised by the force of the ■■ attack;and was thrown into a. panic. rfhe officers vainly tried to rally their men, but 1 many surrendered without firing a, shot. ■ , „, . Prisoners, state that eight ■ German

battalions were practically wiped out in Tuesday's fighting.