PRUSSIAN GUARD

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1918, Page 1

P RUSSIAN GUARD

ATTACK FOR AMIENS

(From Hamilton Fyfe)

With The British Army April 20

Heavy gunning was heard this morning early, and as the sound came from tlin south, it seemed likely that the threatened attack towards Amiens was about to begin. This view proved to be correct. Just before seven, after four hours’ violent bombardment, which included a large proportion of gas shells the German infantry attacked bur whole front of between four and five thousand yards. In aeeordaiiee with their new instructions, which 1 explained yesterday, they advanced in small parlies, each with a light machine gun, while heavy machine guns played on our men in their improvised positions. At first, in the misty air of a dull spring morning, following a cold night, we held them, our riflemen picked off their machine-gunners, our machine guns made it impossible for the infantry to come 011.

lint the “ trickles ” of the enemy continued without ceasing. Gradually they pushed us back towards the village of Villers-BreUmneux. They were astride the road into the village, about

a thousand yards from it when they began the attack, and their attack extended as far south as the wood of Hangard. Farther south they made an assault upon the French line, so far as I can learn, they have bad no success. We were pressed back as far as tbo village. The battle was continued in the streets. We posted machine guns at street corners and kept the Germans hack. According to latest reports they have the "eastern end, we the western part of the place, and fighting there is continuing.

Poor Villers-Bi'ctoiineiix! It has been so close to the fighting for so long—ever since the first days of the war—yet ii]) to the, last few weeks it had escaped injury. T have known it intimately since the German evacuation if Amicus in 101-1. When 1 saw it last a fortnight ago, knocked about almost beyond recognition by German highexplosive shells, the people had almostall gone, the only inhabitant left in view being a very old woman. She said tile neighbours opposite bad promised to let her know when it became dangerous to stay. She did not know, poor soul, that the neighbours opposite had been gone some days. They bad eviedntJv forgotten all about her. To the south of the town the German attack apparently pressed as far as the road leading to I)omart. Here the 4tli Prussian Guards Division was in action for f lic third time since the offensive, began. Tt has been resting and making ii)) its ,losses with recruits straight from Berlin. The other division in the battle was one which came from Russia, arming only last month. This is the first time it has been engaged on the Western Front. Tt knows now the differ--11000 between the lighting here and in Russia, and it will know still better before the battle ends. Severe lighting is still continuing in this area. There art two specially interesting fen lures of this latest development of German strategy. One is the use at last of tanks by tin* enemy. Three of them were taking part this morning in the. operations south of Yillers-Brotonneux, which resulted in our men being utilised to retire along the railway line which runs round the village on the south and east. The ground overrun by the enemy to-day is the same ground which be took and lost nearly a month ago. I gave an account of a battle which f watched from Villers-Bretonneux on March JOtli. In that battle the Germans swarmed across these very fields and wore then forced back by the famous General Samleliam Carey’s force and our tough and dashing cavalry. The other novelty of this attack is the modesty of the enemy’s objective. ]t appears that he only aimed at getting through the village, which is valuable

because it stands on a very high ridge, and as far beyond it its the road running from the village of (V.ohy to Fouilloy. This would bring him three thousand yards nearer to Amiens than he was before, and give him a better jumping-oll’ place for further advances. 111 till his other efforts the enemy has spurred on his troops to do their best by telling them that they were to win glory by the capture of some place with a world resounding naihe sueli as Arras, Arinentieres, Retluiiie. He might easily have in this ease told them to aim at the capture of Amiens, but for some reason or other lie has grown more cautious. All bis other pushes were on a large scale and would have been capaide of development if the first blows went home. This time be has not attempted anything big—just a little improvement of bis front.