AN AVALANCHE OF MEN.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 238, 29 December 1916, Page 8 (Supplement)

AN AVALANCHE OF MEN.

NEW MEN WHO FOUGHT LIKE VETERANS ON THE SOMME.

THE GREAT ATTACK

The following first-hand account of tho recent fighting on the Somnie is extracted from a letter of a young officer who participoted in the great attack : (BY A SUBALTERN.) (London "Express/") We went over the parapet at 6.20 in the morning, preceded by the "tanks." Before W8 knew what had happened, we had taken four lines of German trenches, captured hundreds of prisoners and left thousands of the enemy dead. Then I found myself walking behind a "tank." Of course, hours had really passed, but in the midst of it all time was not noticed. | The weather was fine dt first. We had two and a half days of good weather, and then came thunder-storms galore, and we continued the attack night and day in the pouring rain, soaked through, and sleeping in the open amongst the dead and dying. Marvellous to relate, I was unwounded, though my shield was hit twice, but I was brought out of the show suffering from shellshock and exposure. The Irish attack, made while we were in reserve, was an astonishing affair. They went on in a wild and irresistible avalanche, rushing as one man and storming everything men for whom death had no terrors. The whole attack was a model for us of efficiency, organisation and courage. All the qualities that go to the making of victory were here, fitting in with each other, making a terrific wtapon which was driven home by the high spirit of the troops.

SPLENDID SPIRIT. The men were all new, but no soldiers, Regular or otherwise, could have attacked in a finer or more disciplined way—ice-cold in self-control, but en (ire with the resolve to win I saw Mime stop to light pipes and cigarettes nnd then go on again. Words convey very little of the spirit <ind the drama of all these scenes—the isolated fights, the storming of dugouts, the capture and searching of prisoners, the crowds of British troops moving forward to new lines behind our terrific curtain fire, the Lewis machine gunners rushing up, the supporting and consolidating troops moving forward and digging new trenches, the stretcherbearers rummaging among shell craters for stricken men, the wounded walking back to the dressing station, some falling never to rise again, the cheers of men victoriously sweeping on, the*wild music of the p'pes. the crash of the German shells, the whine of shrapnel, the long rush of our "heavies" passing overhead. As an historical event the recent captures are the greatest feats of the war. They were the last observation posts of tactical value left to the. Germans. We marked the area as the scene of famous battles before the final moment came, and wrestled for the privilege of sharing in the plunge. A proud spirit filled the troops, though we were at tho end of a w.eek of hard fighting, and the slow enduran-e of deafening bhelKng. When such troops come away from the he'd, thinned in ranks, lie king their wounds, worn in body and niiml, minus this officer and that man; when the general, with tears and pride, says "Weil done, lads!" as we march past ih »ar smaller numbers than when we went in, not knowing whether victory or loss weighed most —those who have not experienced all ths can hardly speak or write of the glory of victory. The press and tumult of war are en every side —cannons, vans, lorries, troops, the unceasing clamour of innumerable guns make an undying picture of war to the death.

FIGHT IN THE OPKN. Wo fought in the open, stormed great forts, captured prisoners, dug defences, used machine guns, rifles, bombs, grenades and bayonets, and wounds were given and received by almost every known engine of war, classical and mechanical. How many guns we had going in the final intense bombardment Ido not know. Hundreds, thousands, it seemed millions; and they began all at once. In ten seconds thousands ot shells had fallen. Hurricanes, whirlwinds, thunderstorms, and violent conflagrations—bring them all together, and you would have but a mere suggestion of what went on before we went over. One sobbed from sheer exultation.

The power of the British artillery was appalling. The ground where th-j shells Ml simply erased to exist. Rent and torn in every direction, it heaved its.elf into the air in one great earthstorm. There was no ground, no trench; nothing but incredible chaos, and the smoke and noise grew until even chaos itself seemed to ho blotted out.

Tho British gunners and tii.eir deadly barrage, the discipline and intelligence which alone made possible the niachinelike fulfilment of this carefully prepared schem.e. and lastly the demoralised state of the Hun, were the main factors in our triumph; hut the cost was heavy. The battlefield was covered with dead —about ten Germans to one of ours —and the wounded were everywhere. But we won!