THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

[PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COFVI*GHT.] THE WESTERN FRONT.

BATTLE FOR BELLEVUE.

AN AWFUL COST.

IX) AUSTRALIANS AND NEW

ZEALANDERS

(United Service,Telegrams)

LONDON, Oct 15.

Mr. Murdoch writing on the 13th says:—ln drenching rain the Australians and New Zealand troopa clung throughout the night and day to thedr poor lines and shell holes. The Australians had retired at- dusk from their most foremost posts captured in yoster day’s offensive. They had been mercilessly sniped and machine gunned from spurs parellel to theirs, while batteries of field guns were brought within four hundred yards of their new positions which rained shrapnel, until, the positions jbeoime (untenable. The men were gradually withdrawn. They brought in what wounded they could collect- hut were now sadly depleted in number. Mr. Murdoch refers to the terrible sodden muddy condition of the battle field. He gives an examplo of a number of cases of fatigued men falling into shell holes and being unable to rise and were smothered.

A party of Germans advancing across a l>og, came under fire, and left their dead standing upright in the mud. My observations included a marshy road under (Belle Vue Spur; over which the New Zealanders valiantly advanced. To less heroic troops the feat would have been impossible. , During the height of the ' battle, a Brigadier, replying to a Colonel’s plea for reinforcements, which were unavailable, sent an historic message “Remember the story of Gallipoli.”

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

MUD DIFFICULTIES

BIG LOSSES

LONDON, Oct. 16

Another correspondent describes the Australian advance towards the village of Passchendaelef Ho says the men on the left came under strong machine gun fire from the left flank. This is explained by tho fact that the New Zealanders had been held up by uncut wire, and a nest of machine guns, in a strong redoubt called Belle Vue, thereby enabling tho Germans to pour a direct enfilading fir© into tho Australians. We pushed ahead though many fell. Meanwhile the New Zealanders, with the utmost gallantry, despite this great sacrifice retried to break a way through Belle Vue Spur defence, whicn on Tuesday had similarly held up the British troops. The New Zealanders gained a useful 300 yards, hut their most gallant efforts, though full of noble.. sacrifices, did not succeed. It if not unusual to meet uncut wire in such attacks, but it Was specially difficult to-day, because the weather made a rapid advance behind the barrage most difficult giving the Germans time to get- out- their machine guns, after the barrage passed.

RED CROSS VICTIMS,

OF HUN KULTUR.

LONDON, Oct. 14

Mr. G. G. Robinson again confirming the recent German violations of ■ i 'ir Red Cross says that in some units the proportion of casualties and stretcher hearers exceed those of the infantry as the result of deliberate sniping. Two days ago three out of four members of a stretcher party were sniped at short range and shot dead. A British officer in a. shell hole near, seeing the shooting, • seized a Rod Cross flag, and waving conspicuously marched straightto the snipers’ hiding place. Ho halted a few yards from the German position. The Germans, presumably curious, withheld their fire. Speaking in .German, the officer poured out his indignation, pointing out that Gorman stretchers were moving unmolested. Tho Germans listened in silence. When the officer finished .he turned back,, tossed away the flag, and floundered hack to his shell hole.

. fearful mud. FIRING 03, STRETCHER BEARERS. RETALIATORY measures. LONDON, October ro. Ihe Australian Press ' Association correspondent.at Headquarters says: Artillery on both ..sides is most active in byg areas. Behind the lines it is inspiring to see the New Zealand and Australian artillerymen with field-guns urging their splendid horses through the sea of mud, despite the shellhursts. The poor beasts are sometimes caught in the bog and shooting them i H the only solution.. The Anzacs ale doing wonders in getting up food and ariimunition. In view of the possibility of a counterattack the stretcher-bearers worked manfully throughout the night. At one

ime it was necessary to call for vplun-

teers to man the stretchers. Several New Zealanders were thus wounded owing to the German snipers. The New Zealanders were intensely indig* nant when four were thus wounded at one point in a, few minutes. The; New Zealanders initiated stern retaliatory measures which were speedily effective. By midday practieally all the New Zealand and Australian wounded were brought in. Describing the Anzacs present position he says: The enemy still hold Bellevue, on the south-western end although the New Zealanders ate ol»ing in on Wolf Copse, which marks their maximum advance. The New Zealanders are still in great fighting trim, though impatient because the appalling weather compelled a halt before all the final objectives were taken.

SUCCESSFUL RAIDS. ‘ LONDON, October 15. A French eastern communique reports a successful raid by British troops at Ef&mondo*.

BRITISH REPORSB. LONDON, October 15. Marshal Haig reports that hostile arids eastward of Shreweburg fores* were repulsed. Hostile artillery is more active in tho neighbourhood of Lens and Nieuport. There is, much aerial activity and four German machines wore downed. VIOLENT ARTELLERYING. ' LONDON October 10. A French cominunque says there is violent pfc-tillerying in the region of the plateau beween Evelles and Cretonne. GENERAL HAIG’S REPORT. f APSTJtAIiIAN <Sr N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & BEUTEB.] (Received This Dav at 10.15. a.m ) LONDON, Oct. 16. General Haig reports that Irish troops made a successful raid northwestward of Bullecourt. There was considerable hoe tile artillery fire during tho night in the neighbourhood of Ypres-Stnden railway.