THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 16 December 1916, Page 5

THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN.

A FRENCH REPORT. Received 11.5. LONDON, Dec 15. A French communique states there is intermittent artillery fire on the whole front in Macedonia, especially in the Doiran region. Our fire dispersed an enemy column north of Mon astir.

ANOTHER V.C. FOR A NEW ZEALANDER. MAJOR FREYBERG HONOURED. REPEATEDLY WOUNDED, BUT STLL LED HIS MEN. UTTER CONTEMPT OF DANGER. Received 9.30. LONDON, Dec 15. The Victoria Cross has been awarded to Major Freyberg, a New Zealander, for conspicuous bravery and brilliant leading as battalion commander, who, by splendid personal gallantry, carried the initial attack straight through the enemy's front system of trenches. Owing to the mist and heavy fire of all descriptions. Major Freyberg's com mand was much disorganised after the capture of the first objective. He personally rallied and reformed his men, including men of other units, who had become inter-mixed. He inspired all with his own contempt of danger, and at the appointed time, led his men to a successful assault of the second objective, capturing many prisoners. During the advance he was twice wounded, but again rallied and reformed those with him. Although unsupported in a very advanced position, he held his ground for the remainder of the day and throughout the night in spite of heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. When reinforced in the morning, he organised an attack on a strongly fortified village, and showed a fine example of dash, personally leading the assault. I and capturing five hundred prisoners, I where he was again wounded. Later in I the afternoon he was again severely i wounded, but refused to leave the line until he had issued final instructions. j The personality, valour, and the utter I contempt for danger on the part of j this single officer enabled a lodgment to be made in the most advanced objective of the corps to be permanently j held, and on this point d'appui the line was eventually formed. I Freyberg was the heroic Major cabi led on November 21 and 22.

BRITISH POLITICS. SECRETARIAL APPOINTMENTS. Received .10.50 LONDON, Dec. 15. The following apointments of Parliamentary secretaries have been made: — Munitions: Messrs Evans and Kellaway. Adm iral 1y: McNama nx. Civil Lord of Admiralty: Prettyman. Parliamentary, Board .'of Trade: F. Roberts. Agriculture: Winfrey. Parliamentary Secretary War Office: McPherson. Financial Secretary War Office: Forster. Lord Steward of the Household: Farquhar. Treasurer of Household: James Craig. Comptroller of Household: Cornwall. Captain Yeoman of the Guard: Lord Surlleld. Lords in Waiting: Kenyonnad Valontia. Parliamentary Secretary of 'Air Board: Baird. Parliamentary Secretary to Treasury: Talbot Primrose. Lords of Treasury: J. F. Hope and Walsh and Pratt. Other positions unchanged.

ON THE WESTERN FRONT. LONDON, Dec 15. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We entered trenches in the neighbourhood of Monchauhuse. Southward of Arras we bombed dug-outs full of troops. An enemy attempt to raid in the neighbourhood of Hulluch failed. We bombarded and fired a dump in the neighbourhood of Pys. PARIS, Dec 15. A communique says: There was lively artillery action south of the Somme, on both banks of the Meuse and on heights south to Bonhomme.