THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

[per press association. — coPYHtoirr.] THE WESTERN FRONT. LORD NORTHCLIFFE’S VIEWS. HAIG’S SMASHING TACTICS. p rAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] (Received This Day l at 9.15 a.m.) “ . NEW YORK October 15. Lord Northcliffe, in an interview, says General Haig’s smashing blows will continue, no matter what the weather. The Germans will not enjoy a rest during the winter. Conditions have changed sine® General Joffre said that France needed men. Franoe now has plenty of men to hold the line but wants America . to send a million tons of munitions, which she needs badly.

THE ANZACS TASK. A TERRIBLE ONE. TAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON October 15. Mr. Phillip Gibbs reports that in Friday’s battle the Anzac troops on the right flank made good progress and reached the edge of a hummock called Crest Farm. They killed the garrison, but the German machine gunners and riflemen held another knoll beyond Crest farm, subjecting the Anzacs to a deadly short range fire.. Tho Anzaos would 1 their ground here if they had been supported on the left, but the other Anzacs were having a had time in the swamps there and were unabtt© to make much headway owing to the deadly fire from the higher ground Rafiji fell tlie wholo- tdmo {making the ground even worse than before. The mist thickened preventing the aeroplanes directing the guns and con- ' sequently they decided not to continue the second stage of t’ne attack and withdraw the Anzacs on tho right and centre. The Germans on Friday afternoon opened an intense . barrage lasting all, j night. The German defences were pro. ■ tected by blockhouses ft"- 1 all machinegun se from supporting lines and were sent to the front. Tho enemy had ; never massed so many machine-guns on his front. Many were posted in trees but never were so many riflemen scattered among the shell craters. Machine gun and rifle fire never phased an inßtant during the attack. Our men were floundering in hogs and were unable to keep up the barrage./ German snipers and gunners .shot with cool aim and while our men struggled forward. --