THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Taihape Daily Times, 3 September 1918, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

HOW THE NEW ZEALANDERS TOOK SAPAUME. IRRESISTIBLE DASH THROUGH AND BEYOND TOWN LONDON, August 29. The capture of Loupart Wood and the enemy positions in the vicinity by .the New Zealanders - was a most dashing, bit of work. It was accomplished by North Island troops. „ Wellihgtoir troops attacked the. wood, Auckland men marched on Greyillers, other Wellington troops being in close support, ready to fill np any gaps that' might occur. The troops were on the move by 2 a.m.-in pitch dakness, and proceeding towards an assembly point that none of them had ever seen. From there they had to go forward to an objective that had not been reconnoitred The troops made no error m getting to the assembly point, and at 4.15 a.m., still in the pitch dark, they had taken three parts of . Grevillers and were in Loupat W ood. By the forenoon they were on their final objective. For some time there was trouble from the neighbouring village of Bicfvillcrs, and one company of a Aucklanders was therefore diverted to attack and capture Biefvillers, while another Now Zealand unit also co-op-erated splendidly,in the capture,pf this, village, which enabled our troops to continue their advance .ithro,pgh., j ; tJiO' rest , of, Grevillers. In this brilliant enterprise N]cw Zealanders captured a. large number of prisoners a battery of 5.9’s two other guns, and many machine-guns. A remarkable feature of the operation was the celerity with which it was planned and carried out. There was not time to put a single order on paper, ana the positions were stormed in darkness without the firing of a single round from Lie artillery. Both leadership and initiative must have been splendia to enable troops to get there. August 29—11 a.m.

The New Zealanders have taken Eapaume. Early this morning patrols entered the outskirts and North Island troops are now right through the town and pushing on. Apparently little resistance was met, the encmy_ having been so severely handled in the previous fighting that he eventually had to get out. August 29—noon. The Rifles shared with the North Island troops the honour of getting through B'apaurfc this morning. The former went through on the north, the latter on the south, and the two units met at the brickworks on the eastern side. Both brigades arc now marching forward in great heart on Fremicourt and Bancourt. The day is fine, with a hot sun and drying wind. August 29—8 p.m.

Pressing beyond Bapaume troops went on till they found the enemy holding a trench line on the high ground north-west of Beugny. They are close to the villages of Bougnatre, Grcmlcourt and Bancourt. They are more than a mile beyond Bapaumc on its eastern side. To-day on the’battlefield one saw something of the war of movement. A gallop across countij ■enfolded exhilarating scenes. Transport was already pouring up into the new territory we had occupied and various headquarters had moved up to advanced positions. These are days of scant accommodation, land you will find major-generals sleeping at night In their motor cars or in tents, in their valises,' or on the bare ground. Offices arc established in dugouts in which there is scarcely room to turn, but everyone Us (working cheerfully and

tirelessly to mantain the initiative we now possess. . Riding to-day well north of Bapaume, we saw our howitzers being rushed along a road towed by motor lorries. Some enemy aeroplanes came flying low over us, and immediately there was a fusilade of machine gun and rifle bullets. German 1 shells were now bursting in Bapaume and along the old parts, but our men were beyond the town. Near the new headquarters was a group of prisoners captured in the advance by the Rifle Brigade. They, r wer,e Saxpns. A com;pany'l6ffiqer said,-they had. been cut oil .'by • fire. , His corporal and others,had been killed^-, and they surrendered to the New Zealanders. Ho himself was a Dresden man, and had learnt English from an English friend with whom he used to play tennis He thought the German intention was to retire to the Hindenburg line. Among the booty captured by us this morning were two 15-centinictre guns and five horses.

August 30

At an early hour this morning wo were awakened by the continuous thunder of artillery. It was the signal for a renewal of the attack by the Now Zealanders. With their almost irrseistiblc dash, and undaunted courage they followed the heavy' barrage, heading straight for two more villages —Fremicourt and Baneourt, well beyond Bapaume. There had been rain in the night, and at 5 a.m., when they advanced, it was cold and raw. It was not long before Fremicourt, though it was well garrisoned, had fallen to the Rifles, with the excellent bag of 240 prisoners. On the left English troops co-operated in the attack. To the south was the smaller village of Bancourt. The capture of this was allotted to North Island troops. On the right wore other English troops protecting their flank. This attack also succeeded, and both attacking forces at onec began to rush to objectives farther ahead. The enemy had, however, established hiraeslf on the.high ground beyond’ the village, and was prepared, to strdfigiy contest the position. He<’ .still has : Iris' artillery' in strength-beyond the crets of the ridge as so far he has lost few guns Tii the fighting here.