HAUL OF OFFICERS.

Taihape Daily Times, 3 November 1917, Page 7

HAUL OF OFFICERS.

HUN CHIEFS LEAD WAY TO CAPTIVITY French Army, Aug. 25.—The attack of *yest3rday morning which added Hill 304 to the list of the positions captured on the left bank of the Meuse was over in less than two •hours. The men had to wade through the marshes of the Valley of Death—in many places up to their waist in water —but neither water, gas, nor high explosive could stop them. It is syptomatic of the determination of the Germans to hold out on the line of heights captured on August 20 and 21 that the proportion of the officers among the prisoners is almost 50 per cent, higher than usual. Among 7800 prisoners captured in the first two days are 201 officers. On December 15, when over 11,000 prisoners were made, the haul included only 20S officers The 6th Brandenburg Reserve Division was practically wiped cut as a fighting unit. Of its three regiments 69 officers and 2794 men wore captured, well over a third of the division. Whole divisional organsations, with cooks, cyclists, and even a band, fell into our hands. The bandsmen had been sent to the front line en Goose Hill to take their part in the battle as fighting men, and were captured on Monday morning with .all that was left of the division. The long locks of the musicians distinguish them at a hundred yards from the rank and file.