WITH THE ANZACS IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2834, 27 July 1916, Page 5

WITH THE ANZACS IN FRANCE

THE FIGHT AT POZIERES GALLANT ASSAULT Australian-New Zealand Gftblo Association. . London, July 25. Mr. Philip Gibbs, writing to tho "Daily Chronicle" under Sunday's date, states:—There was heavy fighting in tho early hours of the morning on the lino from Pozieres to tho Delville Wood and southwards of the Trones Wood, in the direction of Guillemont. Many battalions partook in the assault, belonging to English, Scottish/Australian, and' Now Zealand regiments. They fought with courage equal to that which all the troops have shown throughout the three weeks' battle. The Anzacs were chosen to attack Pozieres, with tho English boys working up the other side. Por several days and nights the Anzacs had been in the neighbourhood, under ceaseless shellfire. There was a distance of 500 yds. between tho Anzncs and the front-line trench of the German network across the Bapaumo Road, running diagonally through Pozieres village. This was an enormous distance to go in the darkness under high explosives, shrapnel, and machinegun fire. The Anzacs lay. crouched behind tho earthworks, bracing their spirits for the sprint. Por two hour 9 every gun in the British Batteries fired ns hard as the gunners could get tho shells into the breech. It was midnight when the Annacs went forward with tho other troops, the only light being the signals of the friglitened Germans. Tho enemy was aware that the attackers were coming, and immediately opened a fierce barrage of shrapnel.

Tho first German trench" was lightly held, tho only defenders being tho ma-chine-gunners. Somo of tho Grenadiers flung bombs, and the Anzacs fixed their bayonets, but the Germans did not wait for the steel.. Some retreated to tho second line, and others flung-up tholihands. The German second line was a light railway. This was more strongly held, with many mnohine-guns in deep dug-outs, but the Anzacs came like a wave. While somo remained in the first lino as consolidating parties, others went straight towards the machine-guns and tho Gorman riflemen. Not even the ttiachino_-stunners could keep back this tide of keen and ardent men, these cleanshaven, hatchet-faced lads, who had brought a new typo of manhood to Prance. Without such heavy casualties ns one might expect, tho Anzacs ,took tho lines.

There were two other linos of trenches rn front. Leaving some of their-.num-ber, the Anzaes went on, and carried their objectives with an irresistible rush, find drove straight along the Bapaumo Road, which cuts the village in half. Then they called a halt, and established a defensive position. After this astonishing assault the enemy still holds Hie -north-west side of Poziores, with ma-chine-guns concealed in the ruins of houses and in special emplacements, but the Gorman position is unhappy, owing to the Territorial boys who came up on the Anzacs' left.

The Territorials, too,'fought forward rapidly, under heavy fire. By thetime tho Anzacs had gained the lower village the English were abovo tho village/ outflanking it. _ One objective must lie gained before Pozieres is completely surrounded. This is an old windmill, immediately north of the village, and midway between tho Anzacs and tho English. This has been made into a strong fort, guarded with sandbags and earth works, from which the German machine-gunners maintain n dangerous fire. The Anzacs deserve all possible praise. . AUSTRALIAN OFFICER'S STORY GIUJI AND TERRIBLE SCENES. (Itec. July 26, 7.10 p.m.) London, July 2G. The "Daily Chroniclo's" Paris,, correspondent writes: "The fight on the Pozieres plateau was as full 'of horrors as any incident of the war. When . tho bombardment on Sunday morning had broken up the German trenches tho Australians carried,,tho powerful redoubt at the entranco to tho village by assault, quickly established themselves in tho first of the houses, and made progress, stop by step, until 11.30 a.m., when they were stopped near the church by a chargo by German reinforcements. "A wounded officer said: 'Both sides went, at each pthcr with equal fury. The Germans had evidently been plied, with ether; they recked of it, but tho Australians met them with heroic i tenacity. Rifles wero . usoless— only bayonets, knives, revolvers, and grenades wero used, while some of tho Germans had long spiked clubs. I saw an officer strike a British soldier, who was wounded, with this bru.tal weapon, but ho had no time to finish the- job, as a rovolver shot stretched him beside his- viotim. I saw a thrilling duel. An English lioutenant, who was charging at the head of his men. met a Bavarian captain. Tho Englishman got home with his sword stroke, but at the same moment received a revolver ball in his stomach. Mastering tho pain, he gave tho Bavarian his death stroke, Tho Englishman, unfortunately, died.'"

Tho correspondent continues: "Tho Australians halted on tho ground they had won, and resumed, their advance at four o'clock. 1 By 7.45 p.m., the villago was captured. Sunday night passed in relative quiotude, both sides strengthening their .positions and pulling themselves together'for tho new struggle. "Tho Germans, at dawn on Monday, after the heaviest cannonade, made a furious charge, before which tho Australians fell back to tho market place. The latest news states that the fight continues to be favourable to us in tho northeastern sector of the village." TRENCH RAIDS BY NEW ZEALANDERS Tho following special message has been received from the New Zealand Official War Correspondent (Mr. Malcolm Ross): "Two more raids wore successfully carried out by the New Zcalanders. The Aueklanders camo under shrapnel fire, and the leader of one section was .wounded while crossing our wire. The Gorman trench was considerably damaged by artillery fire.. No live Germans were Been; but there were several dead in tho debris. . "On the same night a'rifle brigade party raided another • section of tho enemy trench, and killed thirty-throe Germans. Tho Germans had by a strange coincidence planned to raid our trenches near tho same spot. They ttere met by our artillery fire, which had been launched for our own raid, and must N havo suffered many casualties. Onr* men repelled another small attack with bombs. We had moderate losses. "The Parliamentary visitors from tho' Dominion made a brief visit fx> our front. Sir James Carroll received an enthusiastic welcome from the Maoris, in old-time fashion, with speeches and hakas. Others spent a few hours in tho firing-line, two of them actually getting beyond our wire, through a listeningpost, into No Man's Land. "Tho party was accompanied by Lord Burnlinm. and was entertained by the Corps and Divisional Generals. They returned to England delighted with their novel and exciting experience."