WORRYING THE ENEMY.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 July 1918, Page 6

WORRYING THE ENEMY.

BOOTY FOR AUSTRALIANS.

LONDON, June 25,

The majority of incidents mentioned by Sir Douglas Haig In the communiques during the fortnight referred" to the Australian troops in the Merris district, or others who, in the AlbertBrettoneux sector, are ceaselessly ■worrying the enemy, delighting in evidences of his nervousness, and sometimes, like a clever boxer, bleeding their weightier opponent.

All divisions have made hauls of prisoners and equipment. One between June 11 and 16 captured 14 officers and 747 men, 84 machine guns, two aeroplanes, two horses, two messenger dogs, eight minnenwerfers, and a pigeon. One aeroplane was shot down in No Man’s Land, the infantry salvaging it. The pigeon was carrying an important message, and fell exhausted in our lines. No Man’s Land here is an unusually chaotic wilderness, but the line of farms and standing crops affords cover for night patrols.

The Germans “kamerad” freely. Recently a party was captured gathering vegetables. The Australians are firmly entrenched, and convinced that the Germans will not repeat their successes. They claim that the enemy is greatly hampered by the absence of reconquered territory. - which is a .deselate and heart-breaking wilderness. 'They, on the contrary, "arg luxuriating in beautiful country, amidrf cornfields besprinkled- with poppies and wild flowers, bathing, sporting', and basking In the sunshind, and signt seeing in the old chateaus and glorIdus woods.

The Germans spasmodically shell hack areas, and at night bomb “towns iar behind, trying to intimidate Civilians. But these, like the -soldiers, appear dauntless and. wonderfully confident, and laugh at the idea of the Germans taking Paris. ’ The Australian casualties 7 continue light.