THE HAVRINCOURT FIGHT.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 September 1918, Page 6

THE HAVRINCOURT FIGHT.

■ elan op NEW ZEALANDEES. i YALOT7B OVERCOMES ODDS. FRANCE, September 12. The Eifle Brigade attacked this morning, in a new advance east and north of Havrincourt Wood on a front of 3000 yards. The New Zealanders’ share in to-day’s operations was to advance beyond the crest of the ridge on a portion of which, the Eifle Brigade had already gained a footing two jago. One battalion had advanced through Gonzeacourt Wood and gained the crest and portion of the ridge, with some 25 casualties.

In to-day’s battle the riflemen advanced following a magnificent barrage from all our own and other artillery. One of our commanders, had Us men dashing forward before the first shells hit the ground, and in 15 or 20 minutes had gained the first objective with only one casualty. This 3>attalion captured two officers and over 1100 prisoners, mostly from a Jaeger regiment. Other battalions also captured prisoners, and by 10 o’clock 300 had gone past brigade ieadquarters. After the first surprise Tiowever, there was fierce fighting for several hours, the enemy making a stubborn stand

Most of the prisoners -were, sturdy fellows, ©specially the Guards Battalion of Jaegers. Their strength had Ibeen greatly reduced in the defence of JSoissons and at the Tillers Cotterets fighting, and last night some of their companies came into the line only 20 jstrong. They spoke freelyq and told an interesting story. Of late they have got to know all about the German defeats from their own comrades Since .the last few weeks they had lost all Confidence in the supreme command, iand now thought the war a useless massacre. The loss of Kemmel they regarded as ta great blow, for it was a key position they had gained at great cost. Jn many instances now great reluctance -was shown to go to the front. Even good troops would surrender if away from their officers. ; September 13. • GEIM STEUGGLE AGAINST ODDS All yesterday afternoon and night tour thin khaki line was struggling •with superior forces of Jaeger and West Prussian troops. With attack and counter-attack, the outpost line swayed back and forward. The battlefield, whipped with a bitter wind and rain storms, presented a cheerless scene. By evening the New Zealanders had been compelled to withdraw from the ground they had gained during the day, but at night, fighting with grim determination, they regained it all. The enemy couner-attacked once more, and recovered some ground in the centre. Hour after hour was fought a battle, the result of which was a severe blow for the enemy, for his losses in killed and wounded, to say nothing of prisoners, were far beyond ours.

Eor a long spell now the New Zealanders have been in the line, and there have been stirring episodes in their fighting. In most of it they have met .wijth stubborn Great resource iand utter disregard of danger have been shown by all ranks. There Was one sergeant who in quick succession had recently won Distinguished Conduct and Military Medals. Under heavy fire he led a small bombing party and captured a machine-gun. He then proceeded up a sap alone, bombing the crews of th'reel other machine guns. He then jumped out of the trench, ran ahead of the enemy, and standing on the parapet ordered their two officers and ten men to surrender. They fired at • him, but he replied by throwing a bomb and jumping from the parapet into their midst. In less than a minute he had killed two. The others ran for their lives, and the sergeant got their machineguns.

Near Hameourt a platoon sergeant Of a Wellington regiment displayed great bravery during an attack on the high ground east of Hameourt. When the crest was reached it was found that a line of five machine-gun posts directly in front dominated the ridge and the ground for 120 yards down the forward slope, making the position untenable for our men. The whole company went forward in line to deal with these posts, from which fire came point-blank. Men were falling, and this sergeant, realising the seriousness the position, when about 20 yards Jiway, followed by another man, dashed forward ahead of the platoon, Tushed the post, and succeeded in demoralising the garrison. The platoon followed and opposition from that post ceased. The sergeant then rushed a, post on the left in a similar manner and the other posts were quickly cleared by the remainder of the company.

DEEDS THAT WIN BATTLES. The story of another sergeant attached to an Auckland company provides an experience in itself. The company, .on reaching the outskirts of Erovillers, came under heavy machine gun fire, but through the dashing leadership of this man throe machinegun positions were rushed, and the mrews taken prisoner before they had

irr.i.-r.'d n.auy casualties on our. advancing troops. Company headquarters had reached the outskirts of the village in advance of the first attacking wave, which was nearly 600 yards in the rear. As soon as our men appeared on the crest machine guns opened fire on them from concealed shelters 100 yards in advance of headquarters. Without a moment’s hesitation the sergeant dashed straight for these posit/ions), over ground devoid of cover, and with the * assistance of the headquarters’ personnel, killed or captured the whole of throe opposing gun tarns.

Later the advance was held up on the right by intense machine-gun fire. Our attacking troops took what shelter they could find in a small sap and in shelter holes. At this critical juncture the sergeant walked forward, regardless of the enemy fire, land located the positions of the nearest guns. Hereturned and reported to his lieutenant. Some way off was a British tank in action, and the sergeant started off to get it to come to the assistance of his men. This, adventure led him across 300 yards of open ground swept by the enemy’s fire. The Germans were firing at the tank with a light gull, and before he Could reach it the sergeant was wounded in the right arm by one of these anti-tank shells. His arm was bleeding freely. He came back once more to the lieutenant, and "Fad it bound up. This accomplished, he went forward again and this time succeeded in reaching the tank, which he proceeded to guide into a position from which it could silence the enemy’s’ machine guns. Before it could reach the position the tank was put

| out of action and the officer in command badly wounded. With undaunted couragtej the JS)elr]g£'aut (organised the tank’s crew with their Lewis guns, some New Zealanders joining them. This party he led in two sections under heavy fire to commanding positions, so that the enemy machine guns had to withdraw, and our advance continued successfully. At this moment he was killed by a bullet from a sniper’s rifle.