NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE BIG BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 12, 9 October 1917, Page 6

NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE BIG BATTLE

»—. STORY OF THEIR PART VICTORIOUS ADVANCE (Special from Captain M. Ross, Offcial War Correspondent.) October 3-5. After a spell out of the line the New Zealanders this morning again found themselves engaged in a strenuous battle in Flanders. In this new bittlo the fc Zealanders' objectives embraced positions on the heights that looked menacingly down upon tho ground already gallantly won by tho British, troops ir the recent battle. Beyond the ridges, a portion of which was won to-day, the enemy has no other ridge to fall back upon, for tho great plain of Flanders stretches away- for many miles, and would make for him an unpleasant wintering ground. ' A part of to-day's battlefielc is tho historic ground lost in. April, 1915 ; when French and Cnjiadian troops were met with the choking agony of the firsl wave of poison gas. It has fallen tc the British, New Zealand, and Australia! troops to win back that ground, stronglj fortified though it is with reinforced concrete gun emplacements and "pill-boxes.' The beautiful weather that prevailed up till now was broken with a night'f rain, succeeded by a misty drizzle and high wind. Tie Now Zealanders attacked at dawn. Previously there had been a lot of irregular shelling by our urtillery, and some practice barrages; but the night preceding attack was comparatively quiet, i This morning at sis, the 18 pounders, GO-pounders, and -4.5-incl; howitzers oponed with n tremendous barrage upon the German positions, whili the heavier guns still further back raiuec shells far afield. The sceno viewed from a forward position afforded a thrilling spectacle, the flame from .the guns immediately behind the flashes of the 18pounders ahead, and the bursting shell; of all these in tho barrage lines in th( misty half-dawn making a most striking battlo picture. It was further illuminated by the flaming ammunition dumps and pyrotechnic )"5.0.5." display from tm German lines. The first objective was promptly taken by the Wellington, Auck land, and Canterbury men. There was a halt of over a hdur- on this lino, aftei wliich the attack was continued by Auck land, Wellington, and Otago troops tc the final objective. Tho officers and other ranks fought as usual with the greatest gallantry, and gained their objectives without a check. It is too early to say what will bo the ultimato result. When. I left the battlefield there were signs of counter-attacks, but these if was hoped to smash, though the dull and misty weather was favourable to troops massing for counter-attacks. Tho enemy s shelling was in places* severe, but not to be compared to tho British. It is too early yet to speak of the casualties, but undoubtedly heavy loss was inflicted on tho enemy, and a large number of prisoners wero taken by the New Zealanders. These wero mostly very young, some of them boys of seventeen <ind cighteon. Sturdier ones may come later, when the shock battalions get to work in the counter-attacks. Notwithstanding tho stormy weather, our aeroplanes did magnificent work. Tho visibility was so poor that they had fo fly unusually low. . The v weather- continues gloomy, with slight rain and half a galo. Biggest Haul of Prisoners. Writing on October 5, Captain Ross says: In yesterday's battlo the New Zealanders not only gained all their objectives, but have held their gains. During the afternoou and night—a night of storm and cold, drizzling rain—some feobie attempts at counter-attacks were easily repulsed, and with remarkable promptness our men dug in all along tho front and support lines. Tho battlefield is strewn with many Uerrnan dead, and the division has had its biggest haiil of over ono thousand prisoners. This battle, if not open warfare, was at least warfare in the open, for there was scarcely a tre:-«h or a communication trench anywhere, and the troops, guns, and supplies went over open tracks and roads. The Hold artillery moved boldly up in broad daylight. Our brigade, which attacked on the right, fought with the dash and gallantry that have more than justified its formation. The Brigadier was delighted with his men's success, while the men themselves are in the highest spirits. All they wanted was an issuo of rum to celebrate their victory. These troops weio tho first to reach Borlina Farm, which was a strong point just beyond the crest of Graveustafel Ridge. ■ The Otago meu in their keenness wen* on ahead of their tinia to securo a lot of prisoners from dugouts and ruins of Gravenstafel Village. One company took more than its own strength in prisoners. All tho farms along tho lino of attack were held in force by the enemy, but when our troops got to close grips with them they showed little fight, and a largo number put their hands up.' The men of this brigade were so keen to remain in. advance that they didn't send escorts back with their prisoners, but let the German officers take them down. Van Muelen Farm, which offered a strong resistance, was taken by the Otagos and Wellingtons. Here a very gallant young officer was killed. Our troops went over Abraham Heights with little difficulty, but beyond that hot machine-gun fire was cyiconntered at "Berlin" from concrete strongholds. The position was bombarded with light trench mortars, and then rushed, many prisonel's being taken there. In Berlin Wood, beyond, the Germans put up a fight, but our men also rushed ibis position, killed several of tho enemy, and captured the others. At Waterloo, on the left, there was a German battalion headquarters, and the New Zealanders, thejr work accomplished, sat out in the orlen smoking the German cigars and drinking the German soda water tliey had found there. "Eyes Right!" At one stage in the advance a body of seventy-five prisoners marched in in column of foul's, with a German officer at their head. MVhen they were first seen on the skylino our men thought'they must be* enemy troops marching to the attack, but,soon found they wero coming in as "kamerads." Later, as they marched down the duck-board wnlk, the officer in command gave "Eyes right" in passing our brigadier, and the salute was executed with due German military precision. Sixty per cent, of the prisoners were sent back from the front without escort.. There were some amusing incidents. One German was so scared that he marched all the way with his bauds half up, and whenever ho met a New Zealand soldier he promptly put them right up. Thero were two battalion commanders and one major amongst the prisoners. ' We .have not yet had time to glean the details of the work of tho other brigade, but apparently it was equally successful, though it met with severe fire at more than one point. During tho battle a padre was killed by a shell. Ho had been helping the wounded at an advanced dressing station, and had come out to got a breath of fresh.air when the shell burst beside him. This morning the battlefield presented a wonderful scene of movement. The ■morning was fine, but ,'it 11 o'clock the field was swept by a (in'ower of driving rain. Some difficulty was experienced in getting up the heavy artillery, but gradually all difficulties are being overcome. Our guns were still pounding the enemy, but his reply was somewhat feeble. THE LATEST DISPATCH PROUD NEW ZEALANDERS. Belgium, October S. Our men havo every reason to rejoice at their victory on tho Gravenstafel Ridge. More detailed accounts confirm the original opinion that they dealt the enemy a smashing blow on this part of tho battleground. Yesterday afternoon prisoners were still coming in, while our stretcher-bearers, tired as they were, wound up the day by carrying in many of the German wounded. The division is already receiving congratulations upon its latest feat 'of firms, and upon the large haul of prisoners., obtained. All over tho battlefield thoroVre maiiy German dead. They can be seen in dug-outs and shell-holes, singly and in clusters up to twenty. Tho cnomy was quite demoralised by the terribly destructive fire of our barrage, whicb struck him in waves. The

I intensity of the attack and the complete- | ncss of its success scorn, at least for the timo being, to have thrown his organisation out of gear oven far beyond his /rout line. This morning I saw the nven who attacked on the left. All were tired and sleepy after their strenuous exertions, but cheerful and elated by their success. Thoy met with considerable opposition, mostly in the machine-gun fire at various strong points in ruined farms on their line of advance, but one after another, theso garrisons were killed or i forced to surrender, and great hauls of prisoners wore mode from concrete dugouts and emplacements. As with the right, so hero on the left flank. The enemy lost all heart in the fight the moment our men got at close grips with him. During the advance a Gorman officer, who had been mode prisoner, throw a bomb into a dug-out in which his own men were sheltering, resulting in several casualties. The medical service was cxcellenty organised, and the stretcher-bearers arid runners worked with tireless energy and magnificent bravery. The divisional staff worked day and night, and nothing that could possibly be done to ensure complete success was left undone. Two members of the New Zealand Parliament, who are serving on this front as junior officers, took part in the battle, going forward with their men.