WAR ANNIVERSARY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3447, 29 March 1920, Page 2

WAR ANNIVERSARY.

Q SECOND BATTLE OF SO.\L\l;l~). NEW ZEALAi\'Dl£R‘o‘ IN ACTl‘O.\'. ’ Last Friday was_ the second anniveri sary of the entrance of the New Zea- ; landers into the secoml Battle of the i Soinine. They were in the vicinity of "Ypres when the Gernians, on March '2l, launched their great attack , against the Fifth Army, ‘which, after ifighting through a terrible five days, ’ broke, and the Cw'erm-an in:-.sses started ’to pour through the gap towavscls L Amiens, Parise, and Calais. 3 The New Zealanders were hurried lsouth, and on March 26 fought_ the memorable battle at the sugar factory in front of Mailley Maillot. The Ist Auckland Battalion met the Gerni-an.< on the main road. and a desperate three hours’ engagement was fought, Captain H. R. Vercoe, commanding the 16th VVaikatos, and Captain J. Gm’don Coatcs, the 3rd Auckland Company. These two companies went into the fight each 200 strong, and came out with a strength of u11(ler 30. T1195’ fought off some other attacks, and the 2nd Auckland Battalitm then tor,vl~: over. In a few days’ time the enemy began to mass on the front. near La Signy Farm, Wliich was just in front of the sugar factory. The 2nd Auckland attacked, evidently surprising them, which resulted in the capture of a very important bridge, on a commanding eminence. This staggered the Germans, as tliey had notified Berlin that they had already eapturedp Colineanips. which was a mile behind; the New Zealand line, they on Aprili‘ 5 put down one of the severest bar-i rages the New Zealand Division everl encountered. Fortun:ltel_\' it missetll our .t'ront line. in which were all ourl machine guns. beszides those captured} from the eneniy. l

When the barrage lifted the Germans afttnc-lied in four c6T?_fnllls in waves. The slaughter was posi‘riVoi_v appalling, 500 dead Gcl'mans‘ being easily counted in front. This s‘taggol'ed the enemy and for over settled the question of :m ::.dv:lnco on his parf in this area. The Hon. J. Gordon Coafes‘, Postm:lstcr—Gonel'al, obtained his bar to his Mili‘t:lr_v Cross :1’: i\l:lill_v Maillof.