WORST BATTLE OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1916, Page 5

WORST BATTLE OF THE WAR.

ANZACS ADD TO THEIR NAME. A GLOWING TRIBUTE ,Jl NO HOLDING THEM BACK. .. TERRIBLE BAYONET WORK. Received July 27, 9.15 p.m. London, July 27. The fust <\ustralian and New Zealand wounded men have reached London. A few of them arc gravely wounded, but ihe majority are suffering from only slight injuries inflicted by German machine guns. The unanimous verdict is that the battle at Pozieres is the .vorst of the whole wnr. British and German* alike fought'like iicmls. The Anzaes insist that a great part of the glory belongs to the Londoners. A wounded London officer, however, declared that the Anzaes, who had accomplished wonderful things at Gallipoli, had, at Pozieres, under conditions of unexampled violence, set a seal to their fame. A British commander shouted and hailed the Anzaes us the wounded were being brought to the British lines. There was not a soldier present who did not echo the greeting, The Anzaes were not ordinary fl;;aters. They seem super soldiers and il'i things without talking. The officer continued: The assault at Pozieres was one of the most difficult essayed since the offensive began. The Germans set their heart on retaining the village. General Haig's order was "Pozieres must be taken," and when the word was'given to charge, the Anzaes swept across the approach to the German lines. There was no shouting or battle-crying. Each Tom, Dick, "and Harry had his teeth set firmly and went forth to slay in silence. When the German machine-guns opened the bullets whizzed in all directions and seemed to be pouring from the skies. After the second trenches were captured the Britishers established themselves under cover of the artillery, but the Anzaes would not be held back, and went forward until they captured the village street. Here the real carnage began. Some crack German regiments were employed, but the Anzaes went for 'heir men and put in some terrible bayonet work. After a fierce contest., the Anzaes obtained the upper hand and drove the Germans out of tlie main thoroughfare and captured a number of guns. It was the most horrible night any soliders ever experienced. By daybreak on Monday we had a firm footing is the village. , The fighting at Pozieres proved that the Anzaes would face a wall of iron and go through it. IMPORTANCE OF VILLAGE DEFENCES. AN ERROR CORRECTED. Received July 27, 8.10 p.m. London, July 20. The Press Bureau states that a captured German divisional order shows the importance that is attached to villages in the system of defence. It says that the conversion of villages into strong points is of the greatest importance. Of such villages are Pozieres, Longueval, C'ontalmaison, and Bazentin. With the capture of Pozieres the last of t.'iese villages have fallen Into our hands. The statement in to-day's German communique that the British attacks ft Throne's Wood wore repulsed is obwously erroneous, and can only be accounted a clerical error. We have held Throne's Wood since the 14th, and our position now extends to the outskirts of Gnilleuiont. GERMANS HOLD STRONG POSITIONS. THE FIRST STEP OF THE BRITISH SWEEP. PROGRESS AT AXCRE. .STRONG POSITION CAPTURED. Received July 27, 10.45 p.m. London, July 27. Correspondents at British Headcpiarters point out that while the capture of Pozieres was being completed the British attacks at Foureaux Wood, Pelvillo Wood and Guillemot marked time. The Germans still hold the strongest positions here and are assisted by many machine-guns. General Haig determined on making no reckless exposure of his men. The possession of Poizeres is the first step of the British sweep down the eastern slopes of the plateaux into the 1.,w ground after leaving Bapanrae. It alii' threatens Thievpal which is a stronghold holding up the British advance. At \ncre Valley, the Anzaes throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning marl-:: steady progress, and were practically through the village on Tuesday afternoon rud side to junction with the territorials, who had also done e:;c?ljcnt work on the. Aviae's left. After i,ot fighting we captured a strong German position. At the cemetery our machine-guns did great execution among large parties of the enemy which tried to escape northward from the viliacc across the open ground. The Germans still hold strong positions u;euiid Hie windmill. GERMANS ADMIT DEFEAT. Received July 27, 5.30 p.m. Berlin, July 27. A communique states: The British troops, after a stubborn fight, have established themselves at Pozieres. Minor enemy attacks near Longueval, and Foureaux Wood were repulsed. Lively hand grenade fighting occurred southward of L'slree^,