CAPTURE OF COURCELLETTE

Nelson Evening Mail, 25 September 1916, Page 5

CAPTURE OF COURCELLETTE

CANADIANS' GREAT WORK DESCRIBED.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. Sept. 25, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24. Mr Philip Gibbs writes : —The Canadians' capture of Courcellette was one of the most astounding things in the battle. After the sugar refinery was taken, the unwounded officers held a conference as to the possibility of taking Courcellette. All seemed quiet in the ruins, but no one knew the size of the garrison, though an occasional outburst of machine guns showed that the defenders remained. It was manifest that it was a> big adventure for the fag end of a day. The conference decided to try. The honour of leading the attack/was given to the "Mop Up" Battalion, consisting largely of French-Canadians. It was afterwards discovered that there were 15,500 Germans in the village, greatly outnumbering the stormers' tiny parties. The Canadians dashed into the dugouts, which were full of Germans. One boy brought up twenty prisoners. Two German colonels were chagrined to find that they had surrendered to i,-uch a small force. The enemy made seven counter-attacks in the ni,srht. Thinss often looked black, but the Canadian boys came through. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. (Rec. Sept. 25, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, Sep*. 25. Sir Douglas Harg reports considerable artillery actdvdty on both sides south■wardjof the Ancxe. We entered' Germantxettcries..ei3stiw!a.rd' of Neuville St. Vast and! took jiiriEOners.