BEACH THOMAS ACCOUNT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1918, Page 1

BEACH THOMAS ACCOUNT

stiff obstacles oyercoaie i AUSTRALIAN A N 13A111.1v ASSOCIATION] LONDON, September 30. Air Beach Thomas writes: To-day was to be the test battle. The enemy knew that if lie tailed to stand here he could stand nowhere. Consequently he brought up special storm troops. General Monash (the Australian comma inder) was faced with a problem as hard as any. problem-solver could wish for. The only favourable accident was tho disappearance of the canal under the hill, giving the tanks an opening. When the forty-eight hours bombardment, with hurricane gas shells ended the Americans hounded forward and fought with desperate bravery. They forced the enemy redoubts, the tanks helping. The South Midland troops stormed colossal defences at Bollcnglise At nine o'clock the Australians leapfrogged through the Americans, after which successive strong points on the super-Siegfried line were w-on and signals were flying up from -objectives thousands of yards ahead. Among these le Catalet was the most valuable, for the roads and railways to Cambrai will, through its capture be soon between our ,pincers. The Canadians approached tToin + llp north, the English, Scottish and New* Zealanders from the south. The New Zealanders reached the road towards Cambrni, with unbelievable speed, sending back a thousand priso«ers before the morning mist had cleared. They encircled Laviaeqnerio and bombed out the garrison before the scheduled hour. Mr Thomas adds : One had only to sec* this wonderful onward sweep of the Allied forces to-dav' in order to discover that- the enemy is gone the toad of utter defeat.