WITH THE ANZACS IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2789, 6 June 1916, Page 6

WITH THE ANZACS IN FRANCE

LIVELY GUNNERY

DOINGS OF FORMER M.P.'S

The following special dispatch ha? been received from the .Now Zealand Official War Correspondent (ilr. Malcolm Ross):— . mil lme !• 'lhere has recently been slightly more activity on the few miles of British sector at present held by thu New mir artillery having stirred thu enemy up on several occasions recently. Our guns put IiOO 18-poimder and howitzer shells on tho German position in forty seconds. Subsequently wo lired another 800 upon the German trenches in four minutes. The shooting was excellent, the enemy's wire being cut, and the trenches badly damaged. This afforded a fine spectacular effect, enabling us to realise what a continued intensive bombardment over a larger area would be like. The enemy retaliated on our trenches, and searched unsuccessfully for our gun emplacements. Later they sent with great rapidity several high explosive shells into tho town behind us, killing a child and wounding a fow_ civilians and soldiers. Our guns again promptly retaliated. "The same day the Germans determinedly shelled a church in the town and a building, igniting the former. An aide to the Governor, with a small band of New Zoalanders, acting as a fire brigade, extinguished the flames in the face of some unexploded shells remaining in the building. * A great portion of the town has been for some months in ruins, hut several shops remain open, and a large number of dwellings are still occupied by civilians. The neighbouring suburb has been almost totally destroyed, but Jccasionally is still furiously shelled by the enemy. A fow inhabitants remain in the damaged shops and houses. They present a pathetic sight. Yet one old, woman pluckily: keeps an establishment open in a'badly-damaged building. "Our men in the firing-lino make periodic night forays between the trenches, and occasionally meet opposing patrols. A southern member of Parliament recently led a night patrol up to the enemy's ivire,'and another member,.with two lieutenants, has been busy -with his company in tho firing-line. The men who are out of tho trenches aro industriously training, there being much that is now to learn. During several visits to tho firingline I found them well satisfied; 'tile sick and tho wounded nre well looked after, the arrangements being excellent."