PERCIVAL PHILLIP’S STORY.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1918, Page 2

PERCIVAL PHILLIP’S STORY.

SECOND PHASE COMING. LONDON, March 30. Mr Pereivsil Phillips states that a steady pressure has continued on our right and southward of the Somme. By crossing the Somme at Chipilly to Cerisy, the enemy succeeded in getabout 2000 yards to our rear. He was held up, however, until all the gtma were removed.

) We took a fresh line further west and this was the position this morning but the Germans are still bringing up guns and fresh divisions; though the great attack has not yet materialised. There are strong concentrations today around Guillancotirt. on the Amiens and Nesle railway a. short distance behind Thesis. The present front situation is generally one of comparative calm, which is obviously due to German preparations for the next phase. W© have an advantage in the maximum shelter possible in open warfare, whereas the enemy are lodged m the region which has’ been strippd to the last roof, without protection from rain or the deadlier hail of our machine guns. .... A notable feature of the fighting was the extraordinary weight of the German machine-gun offensive. Tie was amazingly swift and export in his handling of the newer weapon. He makes each attack under an intense machinegun barrage which appears to rise out of the ground. What is no-man’s land one moment appears to fairly sprout with machine-guns the next moment.