NEW ZEALAND'S FINE ACHIEVEMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, 25 September 1916, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND'S FINE ACHIEVEMENT

SPLENDID WORK BY THE ARTTLLERY. TROOPS CONGRATULATED BY SIR DOUGLAS HAIG-. The New Zealand' Official War corres- j pondemt,, Captain Malcolm Ross, writes: September 16. Having gained our objective on the lstb, the New Zealand artillery were able to send for their teams, Kiriber up, and trash their guns to mew positaohsbehind what had 'been our front line. This for them was the supreme moment. > For the first time in the war they experienced theVglorious sensation of fulfilling the true functions of field, -artillery. Their shooting had! been splendid. The switch j trench, which the infantry had, captuired! so brilliantly, was in many places obliterated. Many Germans must have been killed and even buried by our shelling. The •wire entanglements had been well cut aM along the line. This was all tine more creditaible, because the switch trench could hardly fee seen, and the gunnel's iwere firing by map. After the first day ? s long- advance a German threatened counter-attack was prevented by our artillery, -which promptly switched on to the ground across which the enemy was likely .to advance. Later, another counter attack was di?tr»ersed by our infantry firing and rushing forward with bayonets. The German® turned and ran. We now bad not only half our allotted 'lines, but also-portion of a line farther on the right. The corps commander thanked the New Zealanders for the sporting and tfmely action. . Following up their success of the loth, the New Zealanders on .the second day again pushed gallantly on, and captured! and held other German positions. This attack tell to the First Bwgade, which fought with the same dash and. determination as the others. Our troops were ready to push still further, but the general situation in the immediate vicinity did not permit this. Our losses, th6ugh severe, were not so heavy as maght have been expected, considering the extent of the ground won. We penetrated the German line to a depth of about three thousand yards. ' The Commander-in-Chief (Sir Douglas Haig) telegraphed congratulations, and thanked the New Zealanders for their successful attacks, adding that they showed a fine fighting spirit arid admirable energy and dash. Several Army and corns commanders also wired' their congratulation upon the braWiant achievements of the New Zealanders. NEW ZEALAND ENDURANCE. (Rec. Sept. 25, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 34. Mr Philip Gftbbs im a thrilling narrative and eulogy of the New Zealand Bayonet fighting, refers to their splendid endurance from the ISth to the 22nd September.