THE WESTERN FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1917, Page 2

THE WESTERN FRONT.

BELLVUE SPUR BATTLE. THRILLING DETAILS. 'AUSTRALIAN <fe N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON, October 18. ■ The Bellvue Spur is an ugly V-chap-ed hill rising to a height of two hun-’ dred feet above the flooded Ralapeek creek; its sides extending one thoussand yards back into the Pasoehendaele township. At the point V. which is about two hundred yards wide. A concrete structure stands . overlooking our lines with narrow slits manned with machine gunners and snipers covering every approach. Two irregular lines of wire, each te n feet deep, extended across the front of the redoubt down the hill to the ..vallajy where smaller redoubt bars tlie flank. Bellvue 100k s a forbidding stronghold which is the scene of one of the greatest incidents of the war Against this spur thousands of fine spirited New Zealanders flung themselves down o n Friday with high hopes of crowning an unbroken series ,of victories, with the greatest victory of all.

The enemy barrage played Heavily upon them four and twenty minutes before the start; but the lads rose eagerly from the line of shell-holes and began a stead/ advance wave, our barrage plunging ahead. The men sank sometimes waist deep in mud. The barrage went faster than the advance 'was possible. Enemy machine-gun fire swelled, to a shriek and many men fell; but the men pressed on. They reached Rabapeek and plunged ,into this deep morass.

The enemy’s main b*arrage of shrapnel and high explosives descended hereabouts while the ma-qhirte-guns which were now thickly studded in the trenches between the reduohts, seemed to close the pass a<re irresistibly over tlie dead across tlie road. Others plunged through, the water, though wounded. Some were drowned. Then the ascent of the slope began and the first wav6 now thin reached the wire. Their heroic efforts will in future he told wherever Australians gather. The gallant lads tried every means of piercing the wire as the wave advanced to its death. Men were riddled with bullets others dropped to .’’Che ground and began crawling to their death. At the wire many were shot that remained. S°me reached the other side and charged fill they fell. One‘reached the redoubt and began to crawl beneath the slits round She ride. Perhaps he might have altered the fortunes of the engagement with bombs but he was killed' by one of our rifle brigades which were firing from shell holes. The great- effort ended as the waves \ had determinedly expended themselves. The survivors remained in the shell holes. The Jaegers sniping so accurately that any' head put above the ground was shot. They awaited another effort which the commanders decided was unde-

sirable. The line was organised at night time; hut later was somewhat, withdrawn in order to permit the shell ing of the enemy’s positions. The day was crowded with heroic incidents. An orderly room sergeant after tihe death of his ooloned and the

wounding of the adjutant went through

a hail of bullets to the senior captain and found him wounded. The journey occupied ninety minutes. A Lewis gun

ner was wounded and the rest of the

crew Hilled. He continued -to work ithe gun Upon the enemy machine-

guns; twice advancing to the position, alone, and finding -another gun when his own was blown e»t.

r HAIG’S REPORT. AERIAL ACTIVITY. LONDON, Oct. 18 Marshal Haig reports:—Hostile artillery shelled vigorously various localities eastward of .Ypres, and the posi tions south east of Boelcoppelle. The activity of our artillery continues. Successful counter battery work with concentrated fire was directed with good results on a number of targets. A few prisoners were brought in.( There is no further infantry action. There was great aerial activity yesteday and ninety eight bombs were dropped on the enemy’s billets and hutments. The enemy’s machines were very aggressive in the forenoon, making several flights over our lines. Eleven enemy’s machines were downed. Three of ours are missing. MARSHAL HAIG’S REPORT. CONFIDENT OF VICTORY. LONDON, Oct. 18. The Press Bureau reports that Marshal Haig replied to the Rt. Hon. Lloyd George as follows:—“The British armies in France are proud to have won 'the congratulations of the War Cabinet and the generous congratulations conveyed in your message of appreciation to all ranks, who have determined to achieve victory, and are confident of doing so.” FRENCH REPORT! TAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABT.K ASSOCIATION] LONDON, Oct. 18. A French communique says th#t north of the Aisno the troops repplied an attack against Vauclere Plateau after artillery actions. We qoctjpied Maison de Champagne, north ofSou ain, Rnd to the right of tho Meuee 111 the Boi s de Charnno region.