BATTLE INCIDENTS ON THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2835, 28 July 1916, Page 5

BATTLE INCIDENTS ON THE SOMME

THE GRIM. FIGHT FOR POZIERES \ , GALLANT GUNNERS Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Bcc. July 27,1 p.m.) London, July 27. Jlr. Philip Gibbs writes:—"Following tho first great assault before I'ozieres, before tho key to the position had been really captured, a fight bad to be made for tho higher ground beyond tho village. Tho advancing English regiments upon tho left constituted a menace, also the line which had been thrust forward, a 6eries of posts joining tip' the positions with tho/neignbouriug High Wood, where tho enemy's heavy bombardment .checked our progress. "A curious incident happened southward of tho High Wood/ Our troops noticed a body of kilted men coming, and for a moment thought 'they were wounded Scottish troops returning. An officer with field glasses discovered that\ they were Germans dressed in dead men's kilts. A few shells dispersed them. "For tho past few days, the increasing strength of the German artillery has been noticeable, especially in- heavy guns, which aro firing at longer rango, wildly, with a view to making things uncomfortable in our rear. "Owing to our superiority in observation and the complete failure of the German aircraft, tho ouemy is wasting much ammunition. Our anti-aircraft guns have hardly lired a shell for weeks. A Wal| of Shrapnel. "Our artillery' work is a wonderful achievement. The success of this groat battle* is largely duo to the science and dnring of the gunners, and tho labour of thousands of men in tho Homeland, sweating in soul and body, making guns and ammunition. The slackening of the workshops would moan tho cutting off of support which is desperately needed now that the Germans are bringing up many new batteries. Our barrage made a great wall through which nothing could pass. It cut off the Germans from their reserves. Some of. our men, taken prisoners in the first attack, were not sent to the rear. The Germans dared not emerge from their for the purpose of escorting them, and they were compelled to share the dug-outs with the Germans. They were foodless and tortured by thirst, and suffering from the effects of the British fire. All were nearly dead. \ "The Germans were too dazed to act as guards, and the English,. prisoners crawled but,, escaped, and reached their own lines. A German officer taken prisoner, said: 'Tour artillery is worse than anything I suffered even at Verdun.' The daring of the field gunnors was incomparable. They came up like Roman charioteers at full gallop, not caring for danger, and placing their batteries in the open as if they were at manoeuvres. The military maps show many points, where the Britisn bombardment smothered clusters of German batteries."