LAST NIGHTS' NEWS. THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3575, 7 October 1916, Page 5

LAST NIGHTS' NEWS. THE WESTERN THEATRE.

THE MEW ZEALANDERS

WELLINGTON, October 6. The following special message has been received from the New Zealand official war correspondent, undor date October 1: —

"This afternoon Ota go' and Canterbury mon successfully attacked a German strong point and" a new trench beyond Flers, the Auckland mon and some of the Rifle Brigade holding- the position on the ru'ht, and the Wellingtons on the left. "The- operation was preceded by a tremendous bombardment, in the midst of which apneared (lame sheila sending firo nloug tho trenrh sine! great rings

of black smoke into tho .'n'r*. The bombardment ovi-cmlcd j'liles i.'n ng the line, and prohcntecl ;i woti(i«riui spec-, tacle. The intensity on the f-octor at-' tacked by the New Vj. ;•.!:) mders exceeded anything I witnessed o:ihur in July or Sei)tcmber in tha rionjp-e biittjoss.

"Following the fining of, the barrage, the New Zonlnridern quickly gained their objectives. The Otago men in their zeal pur.-ued the flying enemy, which carried them beyond their objective, so that they mot*ma-chine-gun fire, unrU-r which they returned to their objwtm:. "The Wellingtons, coming up behind the Otagofr, occupied the ground the latter previously held. " Tanks took part in the operation, [and were soon well iji advance of the positions or.-upied by our troops/