THE ANZACS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1917, Page 4

THE ANZACS.

SUPERB HEROISM

WA TER 1 JOG BED SHELL HOLES.

(Emm Capt'aim Malcolm Ross, Official Correspondent with the New Zealand' Forces.)

IN THE FIELD, October 17

All accounts prove the superb heroism of the New Zealand troops in the most recent phase, of tha {Flanders battle, under most trying conditions. The attack nas launched at formidable.. positions, and wave after wave of infantry went forward in an attempt to storm tne dominating concrete machine-gun positions, the only shelter from which was in water-logged shell-holes.

j Owing to the unpropitious weather groat difficulty had been experienced in getting the guns tip to the forward positions, and when 11 1 oy commenced shooting some—especially the heavier pieces—shifted upon their foundation, so that the usual effectiveness of the barrage was interfered with. | After the men had fought almost to a standstill, the officers, leaving ( wliat shelter they had in shell holes, I went forward to reconnoitre the position, and wore shot at by snipers and machine-gunners from the heights ab- . ove. This accounts for the large per--1 contage of casualties in the officers,

details of which have reached the Dominion through the ordinary channels. The farthest point reached was hy the Rifles oh the left at the cemetery and Wolf Copse, and ,by the Canterbury and Otago troops, who made ail indentation just below Bellevue, from which came hot machine-gun fire.

Forward of this, on the ridge to the left of Passchendaclo village, were two pill-boxes from which came a destructive fire.

Fader the conditions that existed no troops could have stormed such a position, and it was wisely decided to break off the attack.

During the afternoon the battle quiet enod down, and both sides devoted all tlieir energy to clearing their wounded an extremely difficult task, requiring under the special circumstances, a very large increase in the number of stret-cher-bearers. These were procured from the reserves and other units, and worked heroically and untiringly, with tlio result that our sector was quite clear of wounded forty-eight hours after the battle.

Operations have quietened down, but the enemy artillery arc again becoming active, and yesterday morning mixed their shooting with a Large number of gas shells. Their aircraft have also been active with bombing raids, and have fired on troops with machine-guns from low attitudes. The ground, though drying slowly, is still water-logged, so that in some places it is impossible to dig two feet in the front or support lines.