TRIUMPH OF TANKS.

Taihape Daily Times, 3 December 1917, Page 3

TRIUMPH OF TANKS.

GREAT NUMBER EMPLOYED, WONDERFUL ORGANISATION LONDON,, November 21, Mr. Perry Robinson, the Times correspondent at British headquarters, writes: To-day's attack was one of the sharpest and most bitter surprises the Germans ever experienced. While they concentrated their attention in Flanders 'we attacked their three elaborate, enormously strong, scien-tifically-perfected trench lines. The most striking feature of the fight after its secrecy was the overwhelming fleets of tanks which were present in great numbers during the earlier stages. The field, unlike Flanders, was little shell-torn, and facilitated the rapid advance in the darkness. The tanks at last had their real opportunity. They were magnificently used. They crushed down tier after tier of the stoutest wire.

At many points we hear intoxicating reports of the tanks singly or in droves romping freely and encouraging and guiding the infantry to various villages. The rapid-striding dawn, the smooth, dry country, and the green grass exhilarated the troops, who had been accustomed to the awful wilderness and hideous slime of shell holes. Great preautions had been taken to secure secrecy. After five o ’clock the Germans weke still uncannily quiet. There was occasional desultory' shooting. It was hard to believe that we were on the verge of a great battle. It was astonishingly audacious to send a large, noisy tank to force the teeth of the enemy lines, but it was not discovered until it was too late. The guns, ammunition, men, horses, and supplies, -which w r ere brought up in masses for the great moment, were not betrayed by a single false move. The organisation was as Vonderful as the plan of attack was original, bold, and open. It was dawn before the first German great gun spoke. Then red rockets leaped along the whole line eaHing for help from the gunners. Very little came. The opposition throughout the attacks -was nowhere serious and our casualties were extraordinarily light.