WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1918, Page 1

WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

STILL MAKING HISTORY

(From Captain Malcolm Iloss, Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces in the field). Sept 6

Starting from their outpost positions, won as the result of yesterday’s advance, the New Zealanders to-day continued their forward march. This morning they mopped np numbers of Germans remaining in shell-holes in front of last night’s objective, and took fifty more prisoners. Patrols then pushed on south of Havrincourt Wood to Metzen Coutre village. Havrincourt Wood, where we expected stiff lighting, was evacuated by the enemy.

To-day the New Zealanders have continued their advance east of Havrinconvfc Wood and the village of Metzen Coutre, and have pushed patrols right into Gongeauconrt Wood, which the enemy has cut, down for timber. We are well beyond the Canal du Non 1 , which we crossed where it is tunnelled. To the southwest the enemy has blown up the rail way, and away in the north-east we can see fires burning in Ribecourt. Flesquaires. and Epinoy. We are moving eastward almost parallel to the liindenburg line. But what is of more importance than ground gained is the undoubted deterioration of the enemy moral. Some prisoners who were captured yesteiday accused another unit of running away, and yet another lot complained that the troops detailed to relieve them did not come np. There is increasing reluctance to fight to a finish, and even officers now admit that Germany cannot win, and that, generally, they are very tired of the war. One officer stated that we were in possession of Kemtnel, and when told we got it without fighting was more scornful still. The enemy has blown great praters in the roads near Metz. A soda-water plant captured is now ready t,o supply two of our divisions, and thousands of bottlesful have been discovered. Two German tanks lie stranded in the ground New Zealanders have won. One wood we occupied contained almost luxurious headquarters undestroy,ed. The enemy had evidently settled there for the winter. There were numerous lints with excellent beds, and almost each bad a safe dug-out to which the occupants could retire in case of shelling. Flowers were growing in windowboxes. Two days ago German gunners began to savagely shell this camp, and we found his dug-onts useful. •One hut was set afire, and some men climbing to the roof pluekily beat out the fires while the shelling continued. Returning, our car raced through a barrage of five-nines, splinters of which pierced our mud-guards. Everything goes to show that the enemy is greatly annoyed, though powerle.-s to stay our advance. He is resisting with machine-guns and fire from the south end of Gouzeaucourt 1 Wood and Trescault Ridge.