ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1917, Page 3

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

THE ANZACS.

AN 'AWFEJiL EXPERIENCE.

ON MUD GROUND.

THINNED BUT GALLANT,

(United Service Telegrams.)

(Received this day at 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 11

Mr. Murdoch, correspondent at Anzac Headquarters, describos the terrible. conditions of tho battle. The Australians had to advance over broken ground always knee-deep and sometimes to the. waist, arm-pits and oven further. The British battalions on the left (had an awful time, with waterlogged shell-holes causing them to jump off nearly half an hour late. Thus the Australian sector went forward isolated with no support flanks and drew the full force of the enemy. Our attacking troops were veryweak, owing to the non-arrival of re inforcements.

Tired, but with unquenchable spirit, they started behind their own distant objectives, their ranks thinned as they fought their way forward rushing and storming strong posts, until tho final objective was heroically won. They then started to organise their positions, and build strong points though tin (many places isolated by German snipers.

Their numbers became still thinned and lastly, there was only a' matter of a handful here and there, standing their ground against the full force of the enemy gunfire nnd strong infantry attacks.

Their* positions became impossible, and the little paekots of Australians were withdrawn.

Very few were prisonered. They ramie back in twos and threes, and organised their positions a few hundred yards beyond the furthermost objective w(here, despite fierce counter-attacks they remain.

A FRENCH REPORT. TAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABI.F, ASSOCIATION] & REUTER.] (Received this day at 1.30 p.m/) LONDON, October 11. A French communique says in Belgium at night we broke an attempted attack near East Drndbak. On the right of the Meuse north of Hill 344, the enemy temporarily gained a footing in our advanced elements trench but were driven out. AIR OPERATIONS. rAUSTRALIAN cC N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] A REUTER.] (Received This Dnv at. 12.25. p.m A LONDON, October 11. The Admiralty reports that naval aircraft, and patrolling,machines gunned the enemy trenches,A pilot descended, attacked and silenced anti-aircraft guns. ‘ Large quantities of explosives were dropped on Thouraut, and Liohterveld railway junctions.