THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1917, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

SOUTH ISLAND MEN IN ACTION. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] WELLINGTON December 12. The following message, dated December Bth, has been received from the New Zealand official war correspondent, Mr. Ma.lcol|m Ross. “Following the recent attack by men from Otago and Canterbury battalions supported by British, artillery, an enemy concentration, assembling apparently for a counter-attack, was dispersed by our barrage,, which wa s promptly put down and which caused severe casualties. ‘‘Small groups of enemy infantry were* also broken by our machine- gun and rifle fire. All the evidence points to the fact that the enemy lost heavily “Our Lewis gunners and snipers seldom, if ever, had such an opportunity of howling nvOjt' the enemy in The open One man in a. few days put 25 Germans out of action. Okl hands were enthusiastic regarding their opportunities and achievements. One German, sniping from a tree was brought down hv a fine shot at long range . “Though the final objective, was not entirely gained, ground was taken and hold against most strong enemy opposition Some junior officers and several men were killed or wounded in determined efforts to capture strong pillboxes, with machine-guns, guarding a ruined chateau that was very strongly hold. A captain and signaller wore killed when merely a few yards off one of I lie strongest pill-boxes. “One particularly strong pill-box has since been ascertained to have held between 70 and 80' men, with four machine guns . While the Otagos were held up by heavy tiro, the Canterburys formed a defensive flank, under machine-gun and riflo fire, and some shelling from the front and right flank. “In our new sector the ground is of a sandy nature, aiid will enable us to bold our winter trenches with less discomfort than on the lower lands that for so long wo have occupied on other parts of the Flanders front.”