SHORT MEN FOR CREWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1917, Page 3

SHORT MEN FOR CREWS.

1 Car Interior Crowded With ' , iVJachinery. Lonpon, Noy 19 Mr L. Af-hmead-Barl>etr, wlio is with the -French armies at the ’lronf, writing of the rccnes around Uomblee, is quoted by ‘‘The Chronicle ” as follows : The most interesting eight of all 1 was one of the “ tat. k«.” A dosperete fight hid evidently taken place, arc and her, for the dead lie thickly at this • spot, just covered with a Hyer ot earth and with rifles stuck over each. ■ 1 bear that a desperate fight wiih grenades was carried on arouud her, with our best men taking oover on one side of her giant body and with the Prussians on the other. Her body was scarred with bal ets, grenades and bayonet thrusts, but none hid made the smallest impression, j I went into the interior of this monster and found it a mars of machinery and cartridge*. She certainly carried an enormous quantity of ammunition with her imo the fightIt must be very nrc.omfortable and hot inside when t>l* the txils ate closed. Short men are especially selected for 'this, as there is not much standing room.

Although the enemy at presentshows no sign of a general ratreat to a shorter line, he is evidently becoming more aDd more alarmed at tbe success which attends every one of our attacks after a methodical artillery preparation.

He is certainly taking steps to retreat if it should became neoeesiry to do so, but, oa the other hand, he means to try his utmost to bold oa along the Peronne-Bapaume front until the winter. He has brought up agreat deal of fresh artillery, especially heavy gutls, and showed no sbo-1-age of ammunition throughout yesterday’s operations. On the other hand, to show how he fears our rapid infantry attache, he has now taken his heavy gnus a long way behind hia front line, and' there are now none nearer than five miles He eviden ly means to do his utmost to save his heav’y ait llsry if.he finds imprac'ical to hold his presant line.