ATTACK ON A TRENCH.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 18 January 1917, Page 2

ATTACK ON A TRENCH.

EAELY MORNING INCIDENT. HOW THE LINE GOES OUT. BRITISH HEADQUARTERS. FRANCE, Nov. 13. ! Down the long, muddy hillslopo—half of it brown shell holes and the other half patches of wet, green grass —one could see a line of heads. We j guessed that it was the line ready to go , out. At the top of the other slope— j which is German, and green, the battle not yet having properly reached it— j the tower of the Bapaume Town Hall j showed up behind the trees. The bombardment broke out suddenly behind us, we saw the long line of men below us clamber up on to the surface, a bayonet gleaming here and there, and begin to walk very steadily between the shell holes towards the edge of the hill. From where we were you could not see the enemy's trench in the val- j ley. And I think the line could not see it either, in most parts at any rate. They would start from their muddy parapet and over the wet grass with one idea above all others in the back of every man 's head —when shall we begin to catch sight of the enemy? It is curious how in this country of shell craters you can look at a trench without realising that it is a trench. A mudheap parapet is not so different from the mud heaps round a crater's rim, except that it is more regular. Even to discover your own trench is often like finding a bush road. "LIKE A DISTURBED HIVE." Across the mud heaps there were suddenly noticed a few grey helmets watching—a long, long distance away. Then the grey helmets moved and bunched themselves up and hurried about like a disturbed hive, and settled down into a line of men firing fast and coolly. That was the German trench. It was fairly packed already in one part. Tho rattle of fire grew quickly. The chatter of one machine-gun, then another and another were added to it. Our shells were bursting occasionally flat in the faces of the Germans. One big, bearded fellow—they are close enough to see those details now—takes a low burst of our shrapnel right in his eyes.. A high explosive shell burst on the parapet and down go three others. But they are firing calmly through all this. DESPERATE SHOOTING. Three or four Germans suddenly get up out of some hole in "No Man's Land" and bolt for their trench like rabbits. Within 40 yards of the German parapet the leading men in our line suddenly find themselves alone. The line has dwindled to a few scanty groups. These arc dropping suddenly. Their comrades cannot say whether thev are taking cover in the shell holes or whether they have been hit. The Germans are getting up a machine-o-un on the parapet straight opposite. C;ur. men are making desperate shooting to keep that gun down, but the Germans get it up. In this part of the line the attack is clearly finished. A BRAVE RESISTANCE. In another part where the Soutti Australians attacked they found fewer Germans in the trench. They could see the Germans m small groups getting their bombs ready to throw, but they were into their trench before the Germans had time to hold them up. They killed or captured all the German garrison, captured a machine-gun. and set steadilv to improving the troncli for holding it. Everything seemed to go well in this part except that they could no t oot touch with any other ef our troop's in the trench. As far as they knew tho whole attack bad succeeded as well as theirs. And then things

changed suddenly. After an Lour a message came down from other Australian further. along in the same trench—a message for urgent help. At the same time a similar message came from the ,othcr flank as well. A shower of stock bombs burst with a nasty loud crash from one side. A line of Germans was seen coming steadily along h, single file against the other end of the trench. A similar, number of crashes descended from there. A. machine gut began to crackle down the trench.* the meantime our men fought with bombs, till all their bombs and all the German bombs they could find were gone. Finally the Germans began to gain on them from both ends, and the attack OjßXCrf Jjpo, was over,. They WC re driven from the trend!, In the centre they still held., and handed over to their successors a small remnant of 'German trench which remained in AnstTOilimi hands.