PERCIVAL PHILLIP’S STORY.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1918, Page 2

PERCIVAL PHILLIP’S STORY.

A CLEARANCE

LONDON, April 26

Mr Perciv.il Phillips writes: The Australians and the English have now cleared all pockets of -Germans out of Vjilers-Brotonnfux

The Germans surrendered freely, emerging from their underground shelters. many suffering severely from gas poisoning, os the German helmet is not fully gas-proof.

THE GALLANT FRENCH

FIGHT TILL DEATH

LONDON, April 26

Air. Percival Phillips writes: —The battle for Flemish Hills continued on Friday with unabated fury.

Though the gallant French Infantry defended Kcminel to the death, four German divisions of mounted troops enveloped this isolated mound, of pounded earth and splintered timber, and gained the crest at heavy sacrifice.

The enemy is now striving desperately towards Scherpanberg, the next hill in the chain of ground.

Behind the newly entrenched divisions, the field guns are beating like a heavy hammer upon the plain, of Flanders, and long range guns are searching remote villages and country roads. Although the French l>ore jfcho brunt, the British troops were heavily engaged on either side and especially'on the lower ridge around Wytschaete and the broken woodland towards Ypres Canal. The Germans made a double attack at the Hill after an all night’s bombardment with gas shells. The French Infantry received orders to remain on the Hill until they died, rather than retreat*.

The Germans fought their way through tangled broken tree trunks, wire and battered trenches, losing heavily in the machine gun barrage. It finally came to hand-to-hand fighting. The fog, drifting across marshes, helped the first German attack. The Germans put up a fine fight for a fortified sunken road called Dammsthasse, and held the Black Watch at hand-to-hand fighting at Kemmel village.