TAKING THE RIDGE

Nelson Evening Mail, 26 September 1916, Page 5

TAKING THE RIDGE

EXTENSIVE FORTIFICATIONS. (Published in The Times.) LONDON, The Times' correspondent at Western head quarters says a Genera] Staff map recently found on a captured German officer indicated eleven vital points that must be held while one defender remained alive. Nine of them are alreadv . in the Allies' hands, and the remaining two are outside the scope of the 'battle for the ridsje. The captured positions are closely crowded, which obscures the significance of-each. The whole ridere is a continuous chain of fortresses protecting each other, and so interlocked that their strength is increased a thousandfold. SIGNS OF GERMAN NERVOUSNESS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.* LONDON, Sept. 24. Mr Beach Thomas writes that the battle omens are unusually good. The Germans have withdrawn many guns to their extreme fire limit and lessened their bombardments, and they show their nervousness in other ways. Their counterattacks are vehement. but they lack sting, whereas the British and Dominion troops charge with the winning side's zest. But before the enemy leave their last foothold they will -wrestle for a heavv fall. Behind the machine gunner stands an officer, revolver in band, so that the enemy finds it equally difficult to surrender or n^-hl.