ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1917, Page 3

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

PHILLIP GIBB’S STORY.

THE NEW ZEALANDERS WORK

GALLANT STORMEttS

0 | JubthaliaN & association

Receive, this day at 8.45a.m. LONDON, October o. Mr . Phillip Gibbs says tbo New Zealanders bad many fights on the way Gitoventofd and Abraham Height being surprised at the number of i n boxes” and blockhouses. Appaientlj the Germans had thrust little S‘ OU P s 'of men into forward blockhouses with orders to hold them at all costs until the German attacking < - Visions were reached. Then, moornsequence of this proposed attack, the enei guns laid a heavy barrage over the British lines before our attack minced • The New Zealanders did not escape this shelling, and their Brigadiers-ex-perienced intense anxiety, not knowing from their dugouts, over - which the enemy’s fire passed, whether the New Zealand boys were so cut up, ithat a successful assault was imposslb portuna'tely the New Zealanders were not seriously hurt, and were not thrown into disorder. When the moment came, they went over the top like a pack of hounds on a good hunting morning. , , . They had not gone a few yards belore they took fifty prisoners. There was a blockhouse just outside the New Zealand Assembly.dine, and the garrison surrendered without a fight. Our gunfire_ has smashed tho track of the stream nearby, making tbo ground a swamp. The New Zealand lads bad a devil of a time getting through. Some fell into shell holes and mud up to their belts. Men on the solid ground hauled out those in the slough. This meant a great risk from the barrage travelling on with a protecting screen of shells. The only safety in these battles is to keep doso to the barrage. However, the New Zealand lads somehow managed to scramble over 800 yards in time to catch the top of the barrage. Iho first fight for tho blockhouse took place at Yanmeulen farm. The New Zealand boys began to drop under the bullets from a farm. They wore held up for half an hour until the “leapfrog” battalions, that is the men who are going to pass through tho first waves, to the next objective, came up to help. A New Zealand captain, beloved for his gallantry and his generous hearted ways, led the rush of lewis gunners, bombeirs and riflemen. The Captain fell dead with a bullet in his heart. With a cry of rage tho rest ran on and .stormed the blockhouse. On the left one Now Zealand battalion could sae the Germans firing from concrete houses on the slopes of Gravenstafel.

A GREAT DESCRIPTIVE,

AMONG THE PILL-BOXES

PUSHING HOME THE ATTACK

£ [AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLK ASSOCIATION*]

Roce-ived, this day at'§.4s a.m. LONDON, 8. Although they had to lose the barrage which, was keeping ahead, the New Zealanders went straight for those places, under a sharp fire. Some worked round the concrote walls and hauled out more prisoners. Hardly a New Zealander would go back as escort, so a Brigadier who came out of a dugout to see what was happening received tho first news of the victory from batches of Gormans marching, in company formation, under their own officers, without an escort.

There was already machine-gun fire from Abraham heights until the New Zealanders climbed round the enemy from their dugouts, which were screened by our barrage. Only great gallantry and high spirited youngsters could have done this. The storming of Abraham heights proves the quality of the New Zealand troops, and their keeness to do as well,'and recklessness regarding the coat. A lot of prisoners wero taken at Abraham heights. The next resistance was at Berlin, which was a row of dirty concrete pill-boxos above a deep cave. German machino gunners defended stubbornly. The New Zealanders * brought smoke mortars and fired thirty rounds in two minutes. Then with a

yell they rushed the position from both sides, and flung bombs through the back door, until part of the garrison streamed out, shouting—“ Surrender.”

The other men were dead inside. o The New Zealanders drank soda v water and smoked high-class cigarettes r discovered in a farm where a battal- b ion commander and his staff were pri- v sonored. After refreshment the New Zealanders went out to Berlin Wood, where several “pill-boxes” were hidden among the fallen trees and mudheaps. They had to make their way ...rough a machine gun barrage. From one house a German officer directed the fire and when one gun was silenced, came out with another, and fired round the corn-* er of a wall,, nntil our men rushed it. Even then tho officer raised his revolver, but ho wbs killed by a bayonet thrust. Elsewhero the English boys wore fighting with equal courage, some against even fiercer gun-fire. The English opposed to 'Ghelevult Bolderhook . and Roosebeko endured bad hours. We hold the outer houses of Ghelevult swamp. Here it is oven worse than the New Zealanders encountered. The English men fought ; forward doggod by sheer valor, safe- ’ guarded on the right wing by Irishmen astride Thourout railway, who also . fought recklessly. | The Devons, and Scottish Borderers fought in a most gallant fashion. t HAIG’S REPORT. ! j-*XJSTBAMAjr (X N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] & REUTER.] (■Received This Da’’ at 10.15. n.vn 1 LONDON, Oct. 8. General Haig reports:—Wo beat off ft n attack eastward of Polgon Wood, ft nd following last night’s heavy barsuccessfully raided eastward of Moochy.

BRITISH REPORT

[AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION*] LONDON, Oct. 8.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: —There lifts been stormy weather with heavy rain all day. An attempted advance southward of Reutli was broken by our lire. The enemy at dusk put up a heavy barrage o n the greater part of the front between Broodsoindo and Zonnebeke, but no infantry action followed. Our aviators continue to drop bombs and to mako raids despite the weather. ENEMY EFFORTS. _ PARIS, Oct. 7. M. Hutin states that ho has reliable information that the enemy is making tremendous efforts to construct more powerful aeroplanes to bomb Entente towns, also to counter-balance the American aerial contribution. A FRENCH REPORT. [‘AUSTRALIAN (fr N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION it REUTER.] LONDON, October 7. A French communique reports artillery duelling at Yaux Aillon, Laifaux, and Ilurtebise sector and left bank of Meuse notably north of Hill nl4 and towards Bezonvaux. We repulsed a powerful raid against Vavarin farm in Champagne. FRENCH REPORT. Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, Oct. 8. A French communique states: There wore no infantry actions to-day. Tlio artillery duel was sometimes violent in Belgium, on tlioAimu! and on the right, hank of tho Meuse.

FRENCH REPORT. [AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] (Received This Day at 10.15. a.*u.) LONDON, October Bth. A French communique says the artillery duel was lively in Belgium and A is no. GERMAN REPORT. [ADMIRALTY —PER WIRELESS I‘RESB.j (Received This Day at 9.50. a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 8. • German official.—Local English attacks in some sectors, following strong drumfiro, failed. There was violent artijUferying between Ailetbde south-ward of Pergnv and strong French fire between Samingneux and Bozonvauix. Our artillery frustrated attacks south-westward of Belmont. FORCED LABOUR. [AUSTRALIAN A N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION"] AMSTERDAM, October 7. The population of ltoulers, Men in, WftTneton and Lens are being forced to labour for tho German defence works.

AUSTRIAN INTERNAL AFFAIR S . AUSTRIA’S ARMY. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) (Reeoived, This Da.v at 8.50. a.m.) BERNE, Oct. S. The Austro-Hungarian Military arc calling up a unit of I/andsturmers.