LABYRINTH OF MAMETZ.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1916, Page 5

LABYRINTH OF MAMETZ.

■BRITISH BLUFF THE FOE FINE PUSH THROUGH BARRIERS. London, July 19. The Times correspondent at "British headquarter on the ■ western front writes: '•Contalraaisnn and Mamot7. Wood are firmly secured. The prisoners total 1:000, and the captures of guns and munitions arc daily increasing. The organisation behind the lines is working without a hitrh. The troops are magnificent, and full of fight. The most cordial and enthusiastic relations exist Willi the French troops. "It wus wonderful work clearing the heavily-matted floor of Mamctz Wood. Imagine 220 acres of big trees and undo--growth and voimg saplings, with barbed wire eohwebbed from tree to tree, and the whole surrounded by machine-gun dii'_<-oufs and heavy guns, and interlaced lines of trenches. Some officers thought lhat i'li' wood could not be tliken, but the British patrols dashingly penetrated the southern points, caught'the outposts (napping, and killed ii<) of them. This clever ruse deceived the enemy, who expected the real attack on the cast side, and had put up a tremendous barrage of fire there. While he was doing this ihe British rushed the wood on the southern side with dash and keenness, pushing jp through their own artillery five. '•After the fiercest fighting they rested for the night in an extemporised line. They had then half-won the wood. Four battalions determinedly attacked the remainder in the morninar. "The last SO yards of the edge of the wood was a veritable death-trill), llinenwerfers (mine-throwers), machine-guns, and rifles drove buck the line while our big guns pounded these gun defences. "•Machine-guns hidden in impenetrable recesses survived the bombardment, and they opened a volley on us when we made our re-attack, while the shellshattered trees made the most formidable barricade. Only sheer pluck and utter contempt for death enabled us to advance. "It was a desperate, awful day's work, but in the afternoon we finally broke out of the north-cast corner, captured machine-guns and niineuworfevK, and killed or took prisoner every German. By nightfall the whole wood was ours. Many of the officers and men had only six hours sleep in 00. "The capture of Contalmaison was nn equally fine achievement. Tt was carried out under the most difficult conditions, and with the bloodiest hand-to-hand fighting. "The capture of 'Mamctz Wood and Contalmaison brings the 'British 300 yards from the front trench of the Ger--1 man second line. j "The army commander warmly con- ! sratulated tile artillery."