A REPLY TO PEACE TALK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1655, 28 December 1916, Page 3

A REPLY TO PEACE TALK.

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS’ TRENCH RAID.

A BRILLIANT LOCAL SUCCESS

London, Dec. 2-k

While the whole world was discussing the arrogant German peace proposals the Aew Zealanders were quietly planning a raid on the enemy front-line and support trenches. This they carried out with brilliant success, entering his linos in several groups, killing and wounding fifty men, and bringing back nine prisoners. This they did without preliminary bombardment, at midnight, with the trilling loss of one killed and four wounded. The enemy trenches in many places were found to be in a deplorable condition, badly smashed by our artillery and trench mortars, and waist-deep in water, so that they cannot he held except by isolated posts. The Engineers who accompanied the raiders blew up a powerful pump and seel ion of a tramway. One section of the raiding party threw 300 bombs, killing and wounding 20 Germans. The enemy sent up Hares and star rockets, and opened with machine-gun lire, hut the latter soon died away under bombs from our trench mortars. Documents were captured in one.dug-out from which the cncmv tied.

It is expected that at Christmas the enemy will endeavour to further the peace idea by attempting to arrange a temporary cessation of hostilities. So far as the New Zealanders are concerned any such advances are likely to meet with a hostile reception at the present juncture.

On December 2drd, Sir Douglas Haig inspected the New Zealanders, lie rode past the troops in line, consisting of one brigade and one battalion from each of the other brigades and representatives of ail other units. The commanding officers were officially introduced. A long column then marched past («* the music of hands, the scene being an inspiriting and memorable one. The men marched well and looked remarkably (it. Sir Douglas Haig, addressing the corps and "divisional, generals, again referred to the exceptionally good work of the New Zealanders at the Somme, and congratulated the commander of the division on having such a fine body men under him. He also expressed pleasure with the excellent turn-out that day and the arrangements connected therewith.