WORK OF THE ARTILLERY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 25 July 1917, Page 6

WORK OF THE ARTILLERY.

BLAZING OIL CLEARS THE WAY,

ATTACK ON THE MUD PATCH. The battle of the Messines Ridge will ever stand out as a wonderful triumph for the British artillery, an American correspondent wrote. The deepest significance in the striking victory lies in the fact that the Germans seems to know the attack was coming and had endeavoured in every possible way to defend themselves against it. But as fast as they brought up new batteries the British guns were upon them. British aeroplanes always were over the German lines, watching every move, demonstrating very plainly with whom rests supremacy in the air on this front.

Prisoners say they were ordered to hold the front line at all costs, although their commanders verbally admitted that this line would be taken by the first assaulting waves. It was hoped, however, immediately to eject the British with the xnuch-talked-of German storming troops which had been especially formed to “knock” the British out of any trench element they might enter. The British had to level many bits of wood and then they sprayed these woods with drums of boiling, blazing oil, which burned them away and made attacking across what would be considered impregnable natural defences quite an easy matter. The communication trenches were so badly damaged that it was impossible for the Germans to make their way along them in daylight, except on all fours. Ration parties attempting at night to come up over the open were badly cut up by the constant British fire. The starvation barrage had been so effective that the only Germans who had had food for two days prior to the attack were those who were provided with iron rations. The effect of the mines was simply tremendous, even upon the British troops, who were near them. The Irishmen were just opposite one of the largest mines. They had just got to their feet in anticipation of the final word to move forward as the earth opened 200yds. in front of them. The force of the explosion was great, and the earth shook so violently that every man was flung down. The men were up again in an instant, however, and pressed forward happier than ever. The entire battle, although one of the outstanding events of the wa) 1 , moved so smoothly that there is little to be told about it except the complete detail with which it was prepared and the willing bravery, with which each man went over the top, whether he was English, Irish, 'Australian, or New Zealander. Some of them nven did not have tops to go over. At one swampy part of the line, where the British lay directly under German observation, it had been impossible to construct decent trenches; The place was known as the “Mud Patch.” The night of the attack several officers went in' front of the mud patch to arrange starting points for the various attacking waves. The moon came from behind the thick clouds while this operation was in progress, and the Germans saw what was

being done, one of the British officers being killed by the rifle fire which the Germans immediately turned on them. Later when the troops gaily moved up and over the open and crouched down to wait for the hour of attack, German signals began to go up. It was a moment of terror for the British brig-adier-general commanding this bit of line, for he thought his plan had been discovered. The Germans, however, evidently thought it was a raid coming. As a matter of fact, all the British troops had just moved from that part of the line, as a mine had been set for explosion in front of it. Later it was learned that the Germans had heavily manned their trench in front of the mud patch, and that their losses in the ensuing explosion were very great.