PERCIVAL PHILLIP’S STORY.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1918, Page 3

PERCIVAL PHILLIP’S STORY.

! (per tress associationcopyright.] AUSTRALIAN CAPTURES. (Received This Dav at 11 25, a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 27. Mr Phillips added : —The Australians captured Gappy and Suzanne during the night time. Prisoners declare they had expected to.be left in peace. The principal obstacle was a solitary field gun, which fired industriously until the

Australians, tiring of it, stalked it and disposed of the crew. Then the “ moppers-up ” chased the machine gunners through cellars, and the place was cleared. The resistance at Suzanne was slight and most of the garrison were

prisonered. ; The Australians’ progress apparently ! continues. The latest news states they were approaching the steep Vaux Ridge on the. north bank, within seven miles of Peronne bridge head, and Biaches on the south bank. The intervening country is rolling, mostly covered with old trenches. Apparently the guns and stores are nearly evacuated, and only detachments of infantry remain.

PROGRESS OF OPERATIONS | (Received This Day at 11.15 a.m.) j LONDON, Aug. 27. i Mr Pereival Phillips says the Gor- | mans are clearly fighting a rear-guard ; action, and no longer are wildly at- ' tempting to stablise the line, though j they are counter-attacking at some j points in order to gain time. Tlie on- | jcmies withdrawal south of Bapaume J was difficult, because we had cut the road from Albert to Bapaume. This J road was cut on Saturday and the . Mamotz-Peronne road was cut yesterday. Combles is constantly under the lire of our heavies. Longueval, Cinchy, Guillemont and other places are, also accurately shelled. The Bapaume j

Peronne road is practically untenable. There is no wild forward rush on our part. The infantry keeps in close-touch and our supports are well forward. A Prussian division advanced from Bognatro in the direction of Favrueil. It was spotted by our airmen and mercilessly cut up. Only a remnant reached Favrueil, whoro they fell victims of the North Country troops mostly by bayonet work. Many German dead lie in the village from where they were pushed towards Bougnatf, where the British are reported to ho on the outskirts. Australians in the Peronne is difficult, owing to the erratic course of the Somme and the outlying marshes, but the Australians are showing remarkable speed over the higher ground, which is rough and hilly, and offering plenty of cover for machinegun nests.