With the Maorilanders

Taihape Daily Times, 29 August 1918, Page 6

With the Maorilanders

THEIR SHARE IN GREAT ATTACK .DRIVING EAST FROM VALLEY. ••:•" OF THE ANORE. (Special from the New Zealand War Correspondent.) HEADQUARTERS, IN FE Headquarters in France, August 24. This morning at half-past one (ordinary time) the attack launched on the 21st by General Byng, after a comparative lull for one day, broke out with renewed intensity. It was a brilliant moonlight night, and 'planes hummed above while artillery thundered below. Following a splendid barrage forward went infantry from several divisions. A rifle brigade still represented New Zealand, though another battalion had relieved one that had already taken a successful part in the advance. We continued to hold our narrow front on the Ancre and defensive flank on the right .to join up with a British division one that had trouble with a strong one that had trouble with a strong point known as Beauregard-Dovecote. j It was decided that the Dovecote must fall this morning, and while the English were attacking it, our men advanced due east between the Dovecote and the village of Irles. From across the Ancre came a lot of ma-chine-gun fire, and our men suffered ' some casualties, but these were really lijgftt. Only .two companies were concerned in this. Fighting at night always makes it difficult to stop exactly on an objective, and our men in their keenness went at least four hundred yards further than they need j have gone. However, having gone so far, they decided to hold on to the ground gained. j

A difficult situation arose in consequence. At daylight they found themselves sitting in a valley, with the enemy commanding their position from a ridge very much like Gheluvelt, as was the case during the fight for Poldcrhoek Chateau last year. Then it was ascertained that there was another attack to be made at eleven o'clock in this immediate vicinity, and that their position "was 200 yards inside the area on which the barrage was due to come down. It became a case of crawling out under German machine-gun fire or remaining to be shelled by friendly artillery. As soon as the position was known a messenger crept back and succeeded in getting word to advanced brigade headquarters, so that the barrage,, which was now unnecessary for this bit of ground, was stopped in time. Thus all ended well, and the New Zealanders at small cost had gained a depth of 700 yards on a frontage of 800. In an operation that commenced at eleven o'clock one. company from the same battalion advanced and cleaned out the Germans, who were occupying the valley of the Ancre immediately snorth of Miraumont. Some nests of enemy machine-guns were mopped up, prisoners were taken, and the operation was quite successful. : To-day the heat was tempered by a breeze, but it was .no uncommon sight to see New Zealanders stripped bare to the waist, and being gradually browned by the sun, as they were ©n Gallipoli. Everywhere I found the men in the best of spirits. The fine rweather is certainly in favour of a

quick advance. The battlefield provides many interesting sights, Transport, both mechanical and horse, goes forward in clouds of dust, and batteries are (Shooting from the open while others are moving fell forward. The New .Zealand artillery is well advanced, and ammunition columns are feeding the guns with their usual splendid energy and intrepidity. •Late in the afternoon, from a position well beyond Serre, I watched the ibattle neap AehiJDt l? Grand.l listened to the rattle of ma-chine-guns and saw big crumps from enemy five-nines bursting on ground they had already lost. It was all a Strangely fascinating and thrilling 'sight.

This morning, when the barrage for the 110 'clock (advance came down, hundreds of Huns took to their heels and legged it for all they were worth. The New v Zealauders chased them up as close as they could on the edge of the barrage, and shot at them both with machine-guns and rifles. "We Jrad a greiat lot of fun up there for a "while," said a cheery wounded Rifleanan whom I met on the battlefield some hours later. Away beyond, on a ridge, our men could see other Germans retreating. At the same time iome New Zealanders spotted a piarty ■of about twenty of the enemy coming towards them as if to surrender. Some were moping as if 'wounded, but when they reached a favourable position they began to shoot at our men. Then the New Zealanders dealt it out to their little party, and in a brief space of time.none were.left to carry "back any news of the battle to Germany. "A platcon officer got six and I got two/' said a corporal who was Mt later in the engagement after he lad been interrupted in his shooting

to take back a message to company headquarters. \ Most of our men had but a poor opinion of the fighting calibre of the Germans met in this battle. "The Hun is not sticking it out like he used to," said a wounded New Zealand corporal; "his spirit is gone. The only good men he seems to have now, are his machine-gunners. These are left till the last to hold positions, and I assure you they rare getting a very rough spin.'' '

Returning over the crest of the Serre Ridge, I found between sixty and seventy prisoners the New Zealandcrs had captured halted by the way in charge of about four riflemen. Members of one of our battalions in the reserve had joined them, and all were mixed "together In quite a friendly party. The Germans were willingly giving away souvenirs, and there was a hubbub of of conversation in English, French and German. Nearly all the Germans seemed very glad to be done with the war, and not in the least afraid that the New Zealanders would ''eat'' them.

One young fellow who just before the war had been a student at Oxford doubted my statement that the war j might last three years more, "Ger--1 many," he said, "is finished, and," 'he added with emphasis, "thank the good Lord that for me 'tis at an end." All the German prisoners I saw were very kindly treated, and their wounded were tenderly cared for, and even their 1 walking wounded were taken into our ambulance cars whenever there was room. In the afternoon I was with an officer of our medical corps, who took some of them back in a ear he was riding in. Yesterday our men, with machine--1 gun fife, drove in two hundred and forty Germans upon a position held by some English troops. These Germans promptly surrendered, and ■were marched off as prisoners. "Hard luck for the New Zealanders" I said' New Zealand officer, "Never mind," he said, "it all goes to win the war, and these Tommies fought well." As I write at the end of a long day to catch the last dispatch rider the' loud and continuous thunder of the British guns beats on the air. They have been busy now for twenty hours, and seem as if they would continue until far into the night or next day. Tanks are creeping forward towards the battlefront. It has been a busy day for Ludendorff. To-morrow Bapaume will be in danger,' and it is perhaps within the bounds of possibility that the New Zealanders may have a hand in its fall.