SECOND EDITION WITH THE AUSTRALIANS.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 August 1918, Page 4

SECOND EDITION WITH THE AUSTRALIANS.

STORIES BY WAR CORRESPONDENT. Received 1.20 p.m. LONDON, August 12. Mr, Gilmour, the war correspondent, writing from the Australian Headquarters, remarking on the Australian advance, says: The first day was not a rout, the enemy retiring steadily, hut all semblance of order vanished by Friday evening. The latest prisoners declare they did not expect a further advance after the first day. They thought themselves fairly secure in their little cubby-holes and dugouts at night. There were scores of German dead round machine-gun posts. Many Germans were struggling painfully back to our lines. Our casualties are nothing like so many as in previous battles. Little knots of wounded came struggling back across the vast battlefield, mostly suffering from machinegun bullet wounds. Among our captures was the headquarters of one unit, fitted in truly German, style, carpets on the floors and electric, lights, and an elaborate scheme of telephones. In the deep, comfortable dugouts, where an enormous quantity of documents had been abandoned, we found a packet of 250 iron crosses ready for distribution. Captures included gramaphones, beds, bedding, a library, and many personal belongings, proving the hastiness of the retreat. It is amazing to see the Australians swaggering round in German officers’ tunics. GERMANS’ HASTY FLIGHT. PACKS AND RIFLES DISCARDED. FRESH TROOPS THROWN : IN. Received; 2.30 p.m. LONDON, August 12. Mr. Keith Murdoch, writing from Australian Headquarters on Saturday evening, says: 1 doubt if more than two hundred Germans were killed on the Australians’ sector during the first two days, so weak has been the resistance and so complete the surrender. Everywhere there are evidences that in the Boches’ flight booty was scattered in all directions, packs and rifles being thrown aside. Hundreds o£ mines and big stacks of ammunition were hidden in the:'corn crops. By noon yesterday wm had taken the new encampment replete with bomb-proof huts, elaborate kitchens, even a bandstand and beergarten. The first shock of battle is now over, and organised resistance by fresh troops has developed, so that whatever tactics may be adopted further large numbers of prisoners are not to be expected at this moment. ' ! A