THE ANZAC TOUCH

Nelson Evening Mail, 2 October 1916, Page 4

THE ANZAC TOUCH

FRENCH APPRECIATION

CAPTURE OF POZIERES. GERMANS HUNTED LIKE RATS. The French havo not "been slow to recognise the magnificent services rendered to°the Allied cause '.by the troops from theß ritish Dominions, and many of the Paris and provincial' journals published an article based on authoritative in- ' formation, including mucli interesting detail cqneerning the brilliant work, done by the Anzac corps in.' the Somme offensive. This article stated that after haying- fought in the Dardanelles in a manner that will always remain famous, the Arizaes wished to mark their appearance on the western front by equally striking performances. They have realised their desire. The taking'of Pozieres has confirmed their reputation for bravery and shown the warlike spirit which animates these voung troops who have come from over the seas to fight against German imperialism.

A FORMIDABLE TASK. When the Anzacs came on the scene at the front the British lines ran along the north-west outskirts of Pozieres. The Germans had powerfully organised the defences, of the village," which was protected first by a foelt of deep trenches and masses of barbed wire. In the village itself many of the houses had been transformed into miniature fortresses, and. each of these was provided with deep underground- shelters which could be defended to the. utmost. After a series of preparatory borrrbalaments, the assault 'began' on July 25 at daybreak. The attack was carried out with splendid precision behind the barrage fire of the British artillery, and the ardour of the Anzacs was such that thev reached the first German line, in the" midst of the splinters of their own shells.

I The first great success, which was won at quite a small cost, left them quite cool and collected, and thev at once set to work to develop it methodically. Their progress through the fortified houses in the -village was slow bnt sure. Patrols and grenade-throwers advanced with caution, examining every cellar grating, and crawling like Indians among the wrecked walls to catch the enemy by surprise. By the afternoon a large number of prisoners had been taken, and. the Anzaes were solidly established alon £jthe Bapaume road, which runs, through the Tillage. Four German guns had also fallen into their hands.

■'A REGULAR RAT-HUNT."

Dnrins the following day they contiivued their progress. "It was a regular rat-hunt," said an officer. All those deep underground shelters, many of which had passages leading into others, had to be" thoroughly searched to get out the Germans.. Many of them, after making a pretence at surrendering turned round and fired'on-our men. On July 25th. after a whole section of houses in the north-west part of the village had been cleared in this way, the cemetery was attacked, and here hand-to-hand' fighting was exceptionally stubtorn. Ths Anzaes had the upper hand, however, and shortly afterwards connection was made with other British troops, who had come forward on the left, and the whole village was in British hands. ..

To-dav all that remains of Pozieres is a heap of lubbish. The Bapaume road is scarcely recognisable, and- has been transformed, so far as that portion of it which passes the village; is con r . cerned. into an uninterrupted line of shell-holes. Continual explosions hurl into the air scraps of brick, chalky earth, and ashes, and over the mined village hangs constantly a huge column of smoke and"red and grey du<-'