PHILIP GIBBS’ ACCOUNT.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1918, Page 2

PHILIP GIBBS’ ACCOUNT.

THE ADVANCE DESCRIBED

[FIiH I’ftKSS ASSOCIATION. COFYBWHT.

LONDON, September 30

Mr Pli ill ip Gibbs writes: There had been ceaseless firing for forty-eight hours' before the morning’s attack berran. Our gunu'ers fired gas shells for ten hours, spreading a zone of death over a wide territory. They flung thousands of rounds of these gas shells over the German batteries and assembly places. For the following few minutes there was a hurricane bombardment-. The infantry then advanced behind a creeping barrage. A hundred or more tanks bad gone forward during the night time, and were hiding until they crawled o ut at daylight along with t-lie infantry, made for the Scheldt, v hich is sixty yards wide where it goe s above the ground: Elsewhere it. is enclosed in' 'a tunned: The crossing of the canal is recognised as a military feat as great «s anything in the history of the war. It was more difficult even than the crossing of the canal du Nord. ’jhe canal goes underground for five kilometres northward of Belloeourt. This portion was defended by the Hindenburg line with an immense belt of wire, deep and wide trenches, and a network of earthworks. W ithin an hour after the attack began, reports arrived that the South Midlander, bad secured the crossing and were well on the. other side. The main Hindcnburg line on f.his sector was broken through, and the troops got so much past it at many points that it is now only an ironical memory.

The Australians and Americans, on the night of the attack, stormed the canal where it is partly above and partly below ground around Belhcourt. The line here was terrific in its original strengthj for hosicle ri the wide cana there was a great licit of wire and many trenches, but our guns soon cut the wire this morning. Our troops displayed marvellous valour in establishing bridges. Luckily a heavy German barrage fell mostly behind them and some of our wounded were hurt in their desperate eagerness to keep close to their own barrage. The Americans were less experienced in this than were the Australian veterans. Prisoners stated the Beavrevoir line is not manned, birt observers repoit a rapid movement- of German trains westward showing that the enemy is rushing up reinforcements to hold this position where probably a great battle will be fought. Once through that line, says Mr Gibbs we will be out in open country win., anything may happen.