PERCIVAL PHILLIP’S STORY.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1918, Page 3

PERCIVAL PHILLIP’S STORY.

A. GREAT STRUGGLE.

[PER press association.—COPYßlGHT.!

(Received This Dav «t iO V,. LONDON, October 2. lir Phillip* says the Canadians derwent a hard ordeal yesterday when they failed to make progress. Their battlefront swung forward against devastating machine-gun fire. They pushed in Bleacourt and Tilloy, but by sheei force of shells, the Germans pressed them back. General Currie withdrew them swiftly and planned a heavier barrage, ai'd attacked again to-day along the whole front. Despite German reinforcements the Canadians by nine o’clock had reached Morenchics-Pon-taire bridgehead and Ramillies on the north. As the Canadians fought in the villages and open spurs a great pilla* of smoko arose from Cambrai. which indicated vfc had been set on fire as i is expected the e nemy deliberately started the fires f° r 110 British shell fell within the town. Despite their (logged resistance, the Germans must have realised that their task was hopeless. Fighting southward and southwestward of the town where the English, Scottish and others were engaged, resulted in a further advance around that side of Cambrai. One of the finest exploits Ins been tlic storming of the German salient eastward of Marcoing. TP New Zealanders participated and cleared the south bank of the canal and co-operating with the Yorkshires enteied Crevecoeur while yesterday the Australians bombed their way northward, through ..the Hindenburg defence,, toward Bouy ,and made considerable progress. They attacked this morning be--afcwecn Bony and Joncourt pushing north eastward and occupying Mill Bid go and Entries. Other troops took Lavergies. The Australian movement threatens the German garrison at Gouv. They found strong resistance in n patch of old trenches, between Nnurov and Estrees where the Germans maintained a lamp signalling station for the Hindenburg line. As a result of to-day’s operations we are established nearly four miles to eastward of the Hindenburg main defences. At some points, southward of Veudhulle we are against the southern end of the so-called Masnieres-Beaure voir line, which we already hold, north of Vendhutle while behind it there ■ S no well-established continuous trench jp.vsdetib