MR MURDOCK’S REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1918, Page 1

MR MURDOCK’S REPORT.

| WINTER, COMING. INTERESTING STATEMENTS. (United Service Telegrams), i LONDON, September 22. | Writing from the Australian Headquarters, on the 22nd, Mr Mlirdoeli states: Cold winds are beginning to drive over the battlefront. Heavy 7 rains bring the old familiar muddiness, and the detested “duck hoards”

reappear. The cosiest people along the British ami French sectors are the infantry, in the front support lines. They are snug in deep old trenches or new narrow lines, in which they are safe from shells—hut a man must bo ear-marked for heaven if lie gets hit in odeli places. Wreckage from the battlefield provides ideal material for shelter from the weather. There are ample supplies of German corrugated iron and timber available. For the past two days there has been little fighting for the Roche won’t fight. He has given up attempts to regain any of the lose ground, and simply refuses to face our machine guns, despite strong-worded orders by loading generals that these lines are vital to the whole system of defence.

'The First Australian Division captured documents adding it) the mass of evidence tending lo show a German decline. One, signed by a divisional commander, referring to territory 7 from which the enemy was evicted on trie 18th, says:—“The’whole of these systems must be held for the winter quarters. You must fight to the last cartridge and the last- man.”

Another, signed by 7 an Army Commander, directs that all positions must he held. If driven back the men must retake them at all costs. Onr observations show many signs of decreasing German respect for tut officers. At the Fourth Division’s prisoners’ cage, hundreds of German privates crowded the entrance as each battalion commander was brought in sarcastically cheering and waving their hands. Sometimes a battalion commander and staff cheered back. Such things were impossible a few months ago. Nearly all Gorman officers, however express a manlv regret over being raptured. Senior officers invariably feel it as a deep disgrace. Some add that they have found the war most interesting, and are sorry they have to leave it.

Tile Australians captured some most striking testimonials to the “Tommies.” including a liarrassed German commander’s order that- gas discipline must he made far more rigid on the British front. H P says: “Only yesterday 213 men were gassed in a single bnitalion. It is suspected that the men are purposely 7 getting this gas in order to avoid fighting the English.” No farmer ever longed for rain with the intensity with which the Bosehe commanders must now pray for had weather. If the next few weeks are fine, the Allied blow s may have an extremely far-reaching effect-. On the other hand, nothing is calculated to hamper the attacks more than mud and rain, which enable any rallying elements in file Bosehe lines to hold out- in isolated posts, thus possible gaining enough time to reorganise and stahalise their positions. The whole weight of the British heavy gunpower is now turned upon the wire entanglements concrete machine gun posts and tunnels of the innnor Hindenburg system. Much is hoped for. The atmosphere is charged with expectation of a further advance. The confidence is all greater because the German artillery is proving much less formidable than was expected. Artillerymen prisoners explain that so many 7 guns have been captured that the Germans are finding it impossible to keep up effective filing. There is evidence in our hospitals of a considerable'amount of effective fire upon the Germans themselves. Many hear übmistakeable signs of ,having been shot from behind , and show no disposition lo discuss circumstances. There has undoubtedly been a fair amount of German fire turned upon their own men in anger in their retreat.