THE GLOUCESTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1918, Page 4

THE GLOUCESTERS

HUN ATTACK BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL. Franck, Nov i Yesterday’s battle in Flanders differed chiefly from its predecessors in this region in the matter of degree/' It was on a considerably smaller scale, but relatively I should consider it as successful as most of them. True, we did not everywhere obtain quite all we hoped for, nor did we succeed in holding everything we got. But, as a net result ol the day’s operation, we have greatly improved our position along the northern spur of the Gravenstafel Ridge, and, ill conjunction with the French have established a line well within the southern fringe of the Houthulst Forest. The share which the French took in the battle was not a very large one, but it was splendidly successful. They moved forward in touch with our* left flank, covering an advance of r,ooo yards in extreme depth and capturing a.series of very strongly fortified positions. Their prisoners only number about a score, for Fritz does not appear to have made a very determined stand before the triumphant poilus, notwithstanding that captured orders and the testimony of prisoners render it certain that General von Armin has decided that Houtlmlst Forest is to be defended al all costs.

THEY DID NOT BUDGE. While all our own line battalions, freely mentioned in last night’s communique, fought with traditional valour, the stand made by the Gloucesters was Homeric. Under the great superiority in weight of a German counter-attack the troops flanking the famous west-country regiment were forced back, the line" forming a sharp bend. But the Gloucesters did not s budge ; they stood as they had done in the days of Abercrombie, when they gained the unique distinction of wearing their head-gear plaque both in front and behind. Before their unyielding resistance the Hun effort came to a standstill, and the pressed-back line was able in some measure to recover itself. This morning the Germans launched another mass of storm troops against this sector of the front. ’ Not only did the gallant Gloucesters again beat off the enemy, but they also took 20 prisoners in doing it. At Poelcappelle our troops found themselves opposed by the 3rd Naval Division, which had only just relieved the mucli-battered and shaken SUI Bavarian Reserve Division. In the ranks of the Marine Regiment of this naval division are said to be a considerable number of men drafted from the muting-taint-ed ships of the High Seas Fleet. Report has it that they fought well; yet the fact remains that in this area we carried the whole of our objectives with comparatively slight losses. Advancing from the forked roads west'of the brewerj’, we penetrated for a depth of nearly 1,000 yards, under a* sharp machine-gun barrage, which, owing to the very hazy weather, was not as effective as jt might otherwise have proved. We carried a large number of pill-boxes and formidable redoubts. A significant discovery was made by some Scots riflemen, a German officer being found shot and bound, evidently having been thus treated bj r his own men.