ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 10 January 1917, Page 5

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

DESCRIPTION OF LAST TRENCH RAID. I A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. WHERE WERE THE GERMANS? Received 8.55. LONDON, Jan. 9. Mr Philip Gibbs, describing the last Anglo-Scottish raid near Arras, which penetrated the German third line on a two thousand yards front, says it was remarkable only on the score of casualties. There was practically no German machine-gun fire. One fired twenty shots and was then silenced. The enemy's barrage was erratic and feeble. It is difficult to devinc the reason for .such a state of affairs, but possibly fchcy are nursing their ammunition and holding the lines thinly with youths. Certainly we are able to walk through the old original trench system without finding the enemy. It is wrong to build extravagant hopes, but the enemy cannot afford to be weak anywhere. A heavy bombardment preceded the raid and the attackers trudged quietly over No Man's Land in the afternoon, deliberately, but horribly close to the edge of the British barrage. Aeroplanes flew thickly and low. The lack of 'opposition was uncanny. Entanglements were destroyed and levelled, many gaps being from ten to fifteen yards wide. The trenches were reduced to rubbish heaps and shell craters. There were some German dead. A young English officer, with a reputation, nonchalantly strolling in No Man's Land, led a detachment to the third line, and mounted the parapet, observing the lay of the land. He had a clear view of Tilloy, but saw no Germans. He then returned homewards. A Scottish officer had a similar experience. He reached the third line, but saw not a living German from the first last. He blew up nineteen dug-outs, sat on a parados and lit a cigarette. A few German guns at Tilloy fired weakly. The Scots leisurely exploited the shell craters. The officer then finished his cigarette, blew fanfare on a French hunting horn, and the men slouched home.