The Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY AUGUST 16th. 1917. THE FLANDERS’ BATTLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1917, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY AUGUST 16th. 1917. THE FLANDERS’ BATTLE.

A vivid description is given ot the opening stages of the Flanders' Hattie by Captain C. E. W. Bean the official war correspondent with the Australian forces. Cabling from British headquarters on July 31st, he states that that morning just ns the hillsides overlooking the Ypros salient were beginning to show grey and the dark shapes of .trees to appear velvet-black against the dawn along the portion of the horizon thero showed a sort of chain of brilliant rose-coloured bubbles. It-was the sign which gave the word “go” to the battle on tho Flanders front. The German staff had warned the units that the Allies might ho expected to begin the battle any morning, between three and five o’clock, but till that moment everything was normal. Only near the Ilooge and Menin road, tne scene of innumerable fierce conflicts during this long three years, German flares were going up literally in sheaves. But even there, also, night seemed to have quietened down when that sudr den rod glow appeared on the northern horizon The next instant tho whole plain was twinkling with flashes like lights of a great town seen from a swiftly .passing train. While electric flashes, sulphurous incandescent flashes innumerable pin-points and specs of brilliant light, glittered around the whole great semi-circle of the ' great Ypres salient. As faf to the north as thd e.ye ttould reach the lower edge of the soft grey clouds which overhung this grey morning flickered with ti continuous running band of-re-flected light. Almost immediately there rose from the Germans green and red flares until within three minutes from the start the whole great plain reminded one irrestistibly of °ne gigantic railway junction, with red and green, signals crowded in from tho horizon. Gradually those lghts become fewer, but for fifty minutes the continuous drumfire of the guns seemed to show little cessation. Then the dust and! smoko of tho battle gradually rose and | stifled them. Through the haze no men I or tanks could he seen—only little pin- I points of shrapnol, bursting out over j tho ground which had not been trodden ! by British feet since the historic days when the Seventh British Division fought its never-to-be-forgotten battles along the Monin road. . For on to that ground of imperishable memory British troops have broken to-day. gr.onnd sacred to the memory of that little Briflish regular army which made its last and greatest sacriice there. As I write thp

British divisions are well out into that : historic soil. The Germans in deter- I mining upon their linos of resistance, derided upon putting their greatest i fresh fighting strength in the main front position. Three days before the battle they relieved the tired divisions sent entirely fresh troops to the front line, and brought the tired divisons out to hold tho further lines.- It is through the line of fresh divisions that the British have already broken. In this great battle the Australian trops have played a small part and played it thoroughly well. Some of the latest Australian units in France, on one flank of the great attack, were given the task of capturing nearly a score of tough enemy outposts in front of his main line. These posts wore taken at once. lam told that the' Germans immediately counter-attacked, but were beaten back. Some Australian artillery was aLso employed in the battle. So was launched this morning what uiav bo the greatest battle of tho war.