SIDELIGHTS ON THE BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 296, 3 September 1918, Page 5

SIDELIGHTS ON THE BATTLE

A CAPTURED GERMAN ORDER ENEMY'S TROOPS WARNED TO RESPECT AUSTRALIANS London, September 1. Renter's correspondent at British Headquarters says:—"A lately-captur-ed note issued from battalion headquarters contains the following: 'The -Australians aro a powerful type of men, exceedingly clever, versatile, and enterprising: They know how to creep through "high crops and capture our outposts, and also understand exceedingly well how to carry out largo patrol operations. It is characteristic •off tho enemy that he takes few prisoners, but bayonets or shoots everybody., "—Reuter.

GERMAN PISTOLIERS London, September 1. Mr. Perry Robinson says:—"The Germans are forming pistol sections. Every infantry company is armed with automatic pistols, with an 18in; barrel. —"The Times." THROUGH GAS-INFESTED NOYON :, FRENCH GO THROUGH AT THE : ■ DOUBLE. Paris, September 1. The "Matin" states that the French traversed Noyon at the double. No soldiers are now there, as they are unable to stay owing to the dense clouds of smoke that overhang tho town. After shelling and destroying the greater part of the town the Germane aro now sprinkling it with incendiary shells. Two French prisoners and thirtynine German deserters sought safety in the French lines. The Frenchmen were kept in the bombarded positions with many English, who wero oven worse treated, having to handle shells and dig trenches.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ' ■

MINES AND TRAPSJOR THE UNWARY australians give them a wide berth. London, Soptember 1. Mr. Gordon Gilniour, referring to the mines and booby traps left by tlio Germans in abandoned places, says that these ruses are unfruitful, becauso the Australians, however casual in other mutters, avoid evacuated towns and villages ag they would a plnguo, knowing that traps are sot which might prove'their graves. Ho gives inetances of the discovery of several such'traps. The enemy blew up bridges in the Peronne sector, but failed to prevent the English and Australians advancing and outflanking the town, which at the time of writing was not oaptured, but the fall of which was then considered a matter of hours. Mr. Gilmqur writes admiringly of tho rapidity with which the iiold.guiie and heavy batteries are moved, and are keeping up with the infantry in their big strides forward, while tho patrols are so close on tlie heels of the enemy that they caught up with his machine-gunners and crossed some of the bridges before tho Germans had time to blow up the mines, pushing forward in the. face ofsovore close-rango gunfire and ina-chine-gun, fire. The long advance lias been unbelievably Ifotiguing to tho men ; who have few opportunities for resting, but find satisfaction in the knowledge that these aro unquestionably victorious operations. They are heartened by the fact thab tho onomy's retreat? is necessitated by tho grout thrust begun on the Bth, and that ho has not been given a moment's respite since.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.