THE FIGHT FOR IE QUESNOY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 38, 8 November 1918, Page 5

THE FIGHT FOR IE QUESNOY

GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS

MOST OUTSTANDING FEAT OF THE WAR ( . London; November t Mr. Philip Gibbs writes:—"Though the New Zealanders have been fighting without a break for three' months their spirit is still high. Yesterday's achievement will rank as one of their most heroic. They stormed tlu outer ramparts of Le Quesnoy in old-fashioned style with scal-ing-ladders, and made breaches in the walls. Only the new-fashioned machine-., guns prevented .them storming the keep of the fortress. In their first invitation to surrender they said: 'You are completely surrounded. The enemy troops are far eastward of you. If you surrender you will be treated as honour, able prisoners of war.' Later invito--tions were given bv entering through a breach in the wall and shouting: 'We promise you honourable treatment.'" / Sweeping German Defeat. Mr. Percival Phillips writes:—"Yesterday's victory was a sweeping German defeat. It could not have been more complete. The result is seen to-day, for the booty taken yesterday shows the 6leady disintegration of the German armies. One corps captured a complete road-rank-ing unit, a derelict train, and a water | supply column, with wagons and plant. : 'Hie New Zealanders crowned their spleni did achievement at Le Quesnoy by breaking through the German gun-line east of the fortress and taking a hundred guns. Our men witnessed' the extraordinary spectacle of German batteries being driven by our own teams into the prisoners' cage. The New Zealanders penetrated the wagon lines and rounded up transport. Other batteries were taken 'in the forest. The German infantry fought determinedly wherever an officer was present. to enforce discipline. Lo Quesnoy held out all day at the bidding of a stubborn commander, who met three invitations to surrender with a pointblank refusal. Lnndrecies resisted in the same way, and other villages remained strong points until surrounded. Tho Morinal Forest gave amplo cover, and nn abundance of wire pits enabled tho defenders to delay our troops, but at some places, where the opportunity of- i fered, they surrendered apathetically. I Their conversation in tho cages is a never-ending chorus of defeat.

A Dramatic Episode, "The storming of Le Quesnoy was a most dramatic episode. The old town, witlt its ancient ramparts, had baon often-besieged, but I never saw harder lighting than, the New Zoalanders maae yesterday. The New Zealanders were just west of tho fortifications. A division on tho right was held up by machineguns in tho chapel until five tanks reduced them. Bombardments against the garrison, failed to dislodge them., The New Zealandera tried to take Lo Quesnoy by frontal attack, and reached the outer ramparts. Then thny were held up by machine-guns in the old fortifications, tthich were full of Germans. As further advance by that method was impossible, the New Zoalanders worked north and south, picketed the town, and .went

ahead towards Herbignies and Jolinietz, i which formed the German artillery line., ! Many batteries were grouped under cover, j in buildings and hedges, and were firing furiously, in order to protect Lo Quesnoy. I Before any could be withdrawn, the i New Zealanders were warming among i the'guns, demanding, their surrender.' j AVithout stopping to count their trophies, ] the New Zealanders rushed the wagon j lines, cutting off the transport, which, j was on the point of galloping away. j Enemy Defiant to the Last.. ' ! "The Le Quesnoy garrison were'-flKt; ! aware of the catastrophe when the pro-v' j tective barrage suddenly ceased, leaving ! them perplexed but defiant..: A British | aeroplane flew overhead;'A'nd dropped a "I message, demanding surrender, but the ! only answer was another 'outbreak of ' machine-gun fire. The New Zealand ■ commander, after an' interval, sent in j two parties, each with a German officer, ' I pointing out the futility of further blood- j shed, but tho garrison's commander still declined to surrender. , The New Zealanders later in..the afternoon attacked | again, and pushed through the ramparts, ■< wiped out the machine-guns, and pene- : trated the streets. They were obliged to ■'! fight their way from barricade to barri- j cade before the remainder of the garri- j Bon downed arms. Over a thousand prisoners were collected from the cellars and j improvised hiding places. The capture < ,of Le Quesnoy will be remembered as one i of the most thrilling episodes in this ! carnpnign. .It is. believed to be the first time a besieged town has been formallr i summoned to submit lo British troops.'' ! All accounts agree that the storming i of Le Quesnoy was the most dramatic ! feature of yesterday's battle. Mr. Beaoh ! Jhomas says:-"Tho New Zealanders < fought with resistless speed, .and achiev ! cd one of the most outstanding single 1 feats of the wnr."-Aus.-N.2. Cable Assn, j