THE BRAVE CANADIANS

Nelson Evening Mail, 21 September 1916, Page 5

THE BRAVE CANADIANS

GREAT WORK ON THE SOMME. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Association.) (Rec. Sept. 21,11-10 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 20. Mr Philip Gibbs writes that the Canadians won great glory on Friday and Saturday. They came from the Ypres salient to the Somme determined to .get their own back. The attack was finely organised and* -when the facts are known it%srill be regarded as a great military achievement. The French-Canadian unit was particularly brilliant and cajpitured a German stronghold and took hundreds of prisoners. The New Zealanders, clean-cut, handsome iteliows, followed the great example ■ the Australians set in the fight around Pozieres. The New Zealaniors' gallant charge at dawn on Friday will 1- ng te remembered. They crossed No Man's Land and swept over the 'Jirr.fn trenches and out into the ->lue :n pursuit of the retreating enemy. Such, foul weather seemed to take us back to winter. The mud, rain, and mist made it impossible for the aeroplanes to see the aunners shoot or the infantry to signal their whereabouts, but it was a great sight to watch the troops marching in their glistening waterproofs and steel helmets into the firintr line and utterly refusing to surrender their good spirits. I have been spending four days among the men who have broken the Flers line. The most striking discovery is the great deed- done by the newest troops. Some of the Derby recruits were engaged and the older hands wondered how they would "stick it," but the newcomers leapt info the German trenches witn the spirit* of the oldest fighter?. Th" Londoners did srlorioualy, having one of the hardest points of the attack. Youus civil servants and city clerk's fought sternly ai>d endured all with stoicism.