ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 5 April 1918, Page 6

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEA-

LANDERS.

LONDON, April 3.

Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: —The enemy in the next hurdle will meet men ■who are not tired, whose resolution is as great as that of those he met in the first onslaught. Australians and New Zealanders have come into the line fresh, keen, uplifted by fierce enthusiasm, and stirred by emotions which make these fellows very dangerous. I saw. them coming to relieve the hard-pressed troops. The sight made the pulse beat. They gave a sense of new security. These Australians came swinging down towards tue old Somme battlefields with the spirit of men coming to the rescue of a great cause. Is not this blasted field of Poziers hallowed to them by memorials of their own dead —the graves of many comrades? “We will take Pozieres back/ 'they said. “It is our job." The news that the enemy had come pouring back over the ground at Bapaume and Le Sars,

where the Australians bitterly fought a year ago, was a shock and a challenge. They waited impatiently for the call to come, saying, “It’s a darned shame we are not on the way.” At last the call came. The Australians came marching with an easy, slouching step, with guns, transport ana cookers, like men returning from foreign travels to an old home threatened by invasion. They are known in all the Somme villages. At the sight of their slouched hats the , villagers came out, shouting “Vive les Australians.” They grinned, saying, “That’s all right,” Long columns of infantry marched day and night towards the fighting line their clear-cut, hatchet faces showing a grim spirit of resolution. The New Zealanders followed, spick and span, debonair lads who had Already seen many adventures. It was a glorious sight on the road. After reaching the battle line there were things doing. They sent out patrols, clearing no man’s land, and caught Germans in ambushes, raking stragglers with bullets. They slaughtered the enemy in several small attacks .. nd drove him cut of woods and villages, scaring him horribly day and night. Mr. Gibbs saw slightly wounded Australians and New Zealanders, who remarked: "We were a bit rash. We put our heads into all. It is certain the enemy will not get further.”

WHAT WILL HINDENBURG DO? ARRAS DEFEAT UPSETS HIM. LONDON, April 3. The United Press correspondent says:—The Germans must have been hard hit, not having been able to patch up the fighting machine now. Some of the shell hole 1916. roads had since been rebuilt, but the British blew up bridges. Hindenburg, however, had ample time to repair them. He is probably ready for the second phase of the offensive, but two things are worrying him —first, the stunning blow inflicted at Arras, and second, the double battle front combined wtih lessened troops. There are indications that he is trying to shorten the hundred mile front. He is digging in as some places permit concentrating again, probably southwards of the Somme. It is already known that twentyeight divisions from the North Sea end of the line, and thirty from the Swiss end —about 700,000 (which is almost half the total on the Western front), have been used up. The Germans have now been compelled to withdraw further troops from quiet sectors. The problem is, how long can eGrmany keep up this drain? Obviously Hindenburg is staking everything on a last throw of the dice. GERMANS SUFFER A REVERSE. ,REVERSE, ■ V / ' 1 LONDON, April 2. The Daily Chronicle’s correspondent says: The Germans suffered a nasty reverse at Grivesnes, a low straggling village twenty miles from Amiens, with a dense mass of woods and a chateau. The famous First 1 Division of the Prussian Guards attacked on Sunday, and met a murderous fusilade They charged into the village, despite cruel losses during a two hours’, hand to hand struggle, among cottages. The Allies were then ordered to advance, Tney swept the Guards from the grounds and chateau, French armoured cars did excellent service. The Germans refused to accept the reverse, and put In Von Hutier’s own division. ENEMY MOVING TOWARDS AMIENS. LONDON. / -wil 2. Mr, Robinson reports: Ther is great tension everywhere. The e my is throwing in now divisions r uth of the Somme. There is much movement on the roads towards Amiens. Infantry bodies are constantly endeavouring to feel their way forward.

AN ENEMY MINE. DESCRIPTION GIVEN. With reference to the German mine recently washed up on the Awana Beach, Great Barrier Island, the naval adviser to the Government announces that the following' brief description can now be given: The mine is of German make, and of a type well known to the authorities. In appearance is a cylindrical object with spherical ends, being Bft 4in in circumference with a longitudinal circumference of lift lin. Internally the mine is divided into two compartments, the upper chamber being utilised for the electric -wiring and mechanism and the lower for the explosive charge and detonator. On top are five horns, and the internal mechanism is so arranged that when a vessel strikes one of these horns connection is set up with the detonator and the mine is exploded. At the bottom is a mooring attachment and apparatus for insuring that the mine normally remains at a certain depth, but the latter had been broken away in the present * case. When found, the mine had been considerably damaged by contact with rocks, etc. All five horns had been completely smashed, the electric connections being carried away, and the case considerably dented. It Ts not clear why the mine did not explode at the first contact with the rocks, but probably this was due to the electric connection being previously severed, or perhaps to damage by water leaking into the interior. It is pointed out that the detonator was in position and the mine in a dangerous'state, and any person in future should not tamper with it, blit should report the matter immediately to the nearest naval or military police, or to the Customs authorities.