WITH THE ANZACS IN FRANCE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 185, 23 June 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

WITH THE ANZACS IN FRANCE.

I.IVKI.Y GINXKRY. DOINGS OF FOKMKR M.P.'S. The following special dcnpat<:; has In en re-civ* d from t!i" New Z ■aland Official Wai Correspondent, Mr Malcolm Ho-:-June 1, 11)16. Thee has recently been slightly more activity on the few miles ol the British sector at present held by the New Zeahindors, our aiti'lery having stirred the enemy up on several ocoa--iniis recently. Our guns put three hundred 1 and howitzer shells on tie German position in forty second'-. Sulwei|Uontly we fired another eight hundred upon the German trenches in four minutes. The shooting was excellent, the enemy's wire l>cing cut and their trenches badly damaged. This afforded a line spectaMilar effect, enabling us to realise what a continued intensive bnmoardment over a. larger area would be I'ke. The enemv retaliated on our trenches and searched unsuccessfully for our guneinpbecineii!-. Later they sent with great rapid't.v several high explosive slidls into the town behind us. killing a eh 1.1 and wounding a few civ ilmns and -oldici-. Our gulls again promptly retaliated. The i»ame day the Germans dt term'nedly -lulled a church in the town, i.nd another budding igniting the former. \n aide to tie Governor, with a sma'l band of New Z-alanders, acting a:- a lire brigade extinguished the fl-uius i.i the face of ••cine unexploded shells remaining iii the building. A -irat portion ol the tow n has b< en for some months Mi ruins, but several shop- remain open, and a large number of duellings are still oceiiph .1 \v c'vilinn- The neigbboi.ring -uhurii ha, been ahim-t totally destroyed, but occasionally i.- sti'l fniiously shelled by the ci'emiy. A lev inhabitant- remain in the damaged shops ami lioiwes. They pri -cut a pathetii ..ight. Yet one'old woman pluckily keeps an establishment open'in a badly damaged building Our n.i'i in the firing-line mak. periodic night forays between the trenches and iccasi.inal'.y meet opting pat,,,l-.. ,\ southern member of Parhi,„ent ree. i tiv led a night patrol ui» io the enemy's'wire, and another mc.u---1,, .■ „ ;:'; i v.o lieutenants, ha.- been ! ~1-y with hi- company in the firing- ],,„,. '','! e nun uho are <ui ol the in-nehis are industriously trainin r, 11-,eie Im hi" u,u< h that is now to learn. During -cnral v : -its to the lir'ng hue 1 found the:n well satisfied: the sick ,:,,] tlie wounded are well looked after, th, arrangements being c\< I ent.