GERMANS WHO RAN AWAY.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 July 1918, Page 6

GERMANS WHO RAN AWAY.

A REMARKABLE INCIDENT.

July 11.

The restless enterprise of the Australian Infantry before the village of Villers. B'retonneux appears to have reached its height yesterday, when Australian patrols crept out, entered German trenches, and moved up them, bombing the trenches, which simply emptied before them. This was not because the trenches were not held, but because the German infantry holding them bolted at their mere approach. The Germans jumped out and scurried to the rear, hatless, coatless, and weaponless.

For a time yesterday the Australians were walking over the country where the German front trenches were, exactly as they might stroll about the meadows in the rest rear.

The ground gained yesterday would have cost a considerable battle two weeks ago. Last night the German resistance stiffened, and the garrisons appeared to have been strengthened. Elsewhere Australian patrols rushed a dug-out and killed three and captured one German. Other patrols brought in a couple of prisoners, but never have the Australians witnessed such a scene as yesterday before the village of Villers Bretonneux.