NEW ZEALANDERS AT BAPAUME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 296, 3 September 1918, Page 6

NEW ZEALANDERS AT BAPAUME

A BLINDFOLD MANOEUVRE THE CAPTURES LOUPART WOOD (Special f-wi the New Zealand Official War Correspondent.) (By Cablegram.) August 29. The capture of Loupart Wood and the enemy positions in the vicinity by the New Zealanders was a most dashing hit of work. It was accomplished by North Island troops. The Wellington troops attacked the wood, and the Auckland men marched on Grevjllers, other Wellington troops being in close support, ready to fill up any gaps that might occur. The troops were on the move by 2 a.m., in pitch darkness, proceeding towards, an assembly point that nono of them had ever seen. From _ there they had to go forward to an objective that had not been reconnoitred. The troops made no error in getting to the assembly point, and at 4.15 a.m., still in the pitch dark, they had taken threeparts of Grevillors and were in Loupart Woofl. Bv the afternoon they wero_ on their final objective. For some time there was trouble from the neighbouring village of Biefvillers. One company of a Wellington battalion, with a few Aucklanders. was therefore diverted to attack and capture Biefvillers, and another New Zealand unit also co-operat-ed splendidly in the capture of this village, which "enabled, our troops to continue their advance through the rest of Grevillers. In this brilliant enterprise the New> Zealanders captured a large number of prisoners, a battery of 5.9 howitzers, two other pins, and many machine-guns. A- remarkable feature of the operation was the celerity with which it was planned and carried out. There was not time to put _ a single order on paper, and the positions were stormed in the darkness without the firing tingle, round from the artillery. Both leadership and initiative have benn splendid to enable the troops to get there.

THE TAKING OF BAPAUME . August 29, 11 a.m. The New' Zealanders have taken Bapaume. Early this morning patrols entered the outskirts, and North Island troops aro now right through the town and are pushing on. Apparently there was little resistafioo, iho sneT.y* having been so severe!" haudleJ iu t'fiu "vwicus fighting that lis eventually had ,to get out.

ITie Riiisa chars with the North Island troops the honour of getting fch rough Bapatmie this morning. The Rifles went through on the north, and tlio others on the" south, anrl. the tiro units met at the brick works on the eastern side of the town. Both brigades are now .marching' forward iii great heart on Freinicourt and Eancourt. The day is fine, with sun and a drying wind.

8 p.m.: Pressing beyond Bapaume, our troops went on till they found the enemy holding a trench line on the high ground north-west of Bengny. They are close to the villages of Beaugnatre, Fremicourt, and Bancourt, and they are more than-a mile beyond Bapaume on its eastern side.

To-day on the battlefield one saw something of the war of movement. A gallop across country unfolded exhilarating scenes. Transport was_ already peering up into the-new territory we had occupied, and the various headquarters had moved .up to advanced positions. These are days of scant accommodation, and you will find maiorgencrals sleeping at night _in their motor-cars or in tents, with their valises on the bare ground: offices are established in dug-outs in which thore is scarcely room to turn; but everyone is working cheerfully 'and tirelessly to maintain the initiative we now possess. Riding to-day well north of Bapaume, we saw our howitzers being rushed along a road, towed by motor-lorries. Some enemy aeroplanes came flying low over Tib, and immediately there was_ a fusillade of machine-gun and rifle bullets.

German shells were now bursting: in Bapaumo and along the old parts, but our men are beyond the town. Near a headquarters was a group or Saxon prisoners, captured in the advance by the Rifle Brigade. A company officer said they had been'cut off by our machine-gun fire. His corporal and others had been killed, and. they had to surrender to the New Zealanders. He himself was a, Dresden man, and had learnt English from an English friend with whom he used to ' play tennis. Ho'thought the German intention was to retire to the Hindenburg lino. Among the booty captured by use this morning were two 15-centimetre guns (six-inch) and five horses. FREMICOURT AND BANCOURT

j . ' August 30. At an early hour tliis morning we were awakened by the continuous thuil,der of artillery. It was the signal for a lenewal of the attack by the New Zenlamlovs. With their almost irresistible dash and undaunted, courage, they followed the heavy barrage, heading straight for two more villages—Prenucourt and Bancourt—well beyonff Rnpaume. There had been rain in the night, and at 5 a.m., when they ad-> vanced, it was cold and raw. It was not lone before Fremicourt, though it was well garrisoned, bad fallen to the Rifles with an excellent bag of 240 prisoners. On the left English troops co-operat-ed in the attack; to the south was the smaller village of Bancourt, and tlie capture of this was allotted to the. North Island troops. On the right were other English troops protecting their flank. Tliis attack also succeeded, and both attacking forces at once began to push to objectives further ahead. The enemy had, however, established himself on high ground beyond the village, and was prepared to contest tho position strongly. He still has-his artillery in strength beyond the crest of tile rid'ee, and so far he has lost few guns in "the fighting here.