NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 9, 5 October 1918, Page 8

NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE BATTLE

OPERATIONS ON THE CANAL

(Special Dispatch from the Official War

Correspondent.)

September 30,

Yesterday's sunshine gave place to a bitter glare ivith slight rain, and last night lorries ami teams driving ■ without lights in darkness had difficult work mi getting up supplies and ammunition over roads that had been badly shelled; yet all difficulties wore cheerfully overcome. Last night, in conjunction with an English division, ■we pushed out patrols, who met strong opposition all along the line of the canal, but this morning about 4 o'clock the resistance weakened somewhat. The Otago and Canterbury troops, still pushing ahead, reached the canal bank to find the- bridges blown and machineguns firing on them from the other side.- About 9 o'clock two platoons succeeded in crossing on our right, and one company got over on the left. Wellington troops are Jiow along the line off the canal, and the Aucklanders are getting across at Crevecoeur. It is not anticipated surmounting this formidable obstacle so cheaply. This morning we took more prisoners than we had casualties., At present the canal is.impassable for transport.- The Engineers are already at work repairing bridges and pontoons and are moving forward. Our prisoners were added yesterday's, and now total sixty officers and fifteen hundred of other ranks. A large number of Germans wore treated at .our dressing station. They are badly wounded in the.chest and abdomen, a tribute to the deadly fire of our infantry nnd machine-gun-ners. Though t-hoy havo received the best skilled treatmpnt, a considerable number will not recover. In regard to our care- elf tho enemy wounded it is interesting to note thn't in four weeks' ■ fighting this divjsion silone has treated between five- and six hundred German wounded. ' "■