RUN OVER BY A TANK,

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1918, Page 1

RUN OVER BY A TANK,

EXPERIENCE AT GIVENCIIY. LONDON, April 20. In the attack on Givenchy there was for some time a doubt as to whether enemy tanks had really been in action. This doubt was set at rest by the arrival at a certain headquarters of an officer of tlie Middlesex Regiment, who had the best, reason for knowing they were in the field. He had been run over bv

His was an extraordinary adventure. He was in his trench—not a deep trench either—when out of the mist-, which was thick in the early morning, as it usually is when the Roche attacks, he saw an immense tank trundling along. He saw also that it would be useless to get- out of his trench and run. The tank guns would shoot him down. Mo he stayed where he was firing at tlie slits in the armour-plating with his revolver.

“I know that wasn’t any good,’’ this “Old Die-Hard " officer said, as he. told the story, “ but I bad to do something to cheer myself up. You can’t sit still and let a tank run over you. The thing was coming straight for our trench. It: was impossible to get- out of its way.” . On it came and plunged at them. All ducked their heads instinctively, not t hoping to escape, hut by a piece of luck they did escape. Tlie tank did not break the trench in. It passed over, and to their great surprise they found themselves alive. Somehow, the captain guided his handful of men hack to our lines through tlie enemy, and they told their astonishing tale. A terriffic four-hours bombardment preceded the German attack, and this, coupled with the (hick mist, was laregly responsible for the first success of the German rush on Yillers-Bretonneux. Among the defenders of this village were many.recent drafts, young troops who had scarcely boon in action before and who had never experienced anything so appalling as the hail of bursting shells, which poured upon them from 4 a.m. till 6. Their line, was pushed back, but not far back. “ When you come to think of if,” said one of their high commanding officers to-day, “ they put up a thundering good show. I have seen such a experience as these lads underwent- during the preliminary bombardment drive men mad with unstrung nerves and terror. 1 think it wonderful- that fresh troops stand these bombardments as they do. You would never have thought last night that they had been through such an awful ordeal, and this morning they are full of fight. T sent an order for the Berkshires to attack not long ago, and within half an hour I heard from them that they had taken 200 prisoners and 15 machine guns.” There "'as a great deal of gas in the preparatory bombardment. The village was so full of it that the East 'Laneashires, who wore garrisoning the place, had to hold it- by the edges only. The Germans pressed on steadily, but not so quickly as they had intended. During the latter part of the morning they became so doubtful of success that they put in two more divisions to make sure. Even that did not give them what they sought. They had now employed four times as many troops as were opposing their advance, yet they were held off from their objective, which was the road running through Aqueniio Mood to the west of the town

Rv noon they were near the edge of this wood, but they could get no farther. One patrol of Germans, an officer and -10 men, did penetrate into it, hut they could no nothing, being so few, and they were not able to rejoin their comrades. This morning they came out of the thickets where they had hidden and oa Vi* themselves up. n 1 .