NEW ZEALANDERS' SPLENDID RAID.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1917, Page 8

NEW ZEALANDERS' SPLENDID RAID.

AS ANSWER TO GERMAN PEACE PROPOSALS. (From Captain Malcolm .Ross, Official Correspondent with N.Z Forces). London, Dec. 24. While the whole world was discussing the arrogant German peace proposals, New Zcalaiulers were quietly planning a raid on the enemy's front line and support, trenches. This they carried out with brilliant success. entering his lines in several groups, killing and wounding fifty men, and bringing back nine prisoners. This they did without preliminary bombardment at midnight. with the trifling loss of one killed and four wounded. The enemy trenches in many places were found to be in a deplorable condition, badly smashed by our artillery and trench mortars, and waist deep in water, so that they cannot, be held except bv isolated posts. The engineers who accompanied the raiders, blew up a powerful pump and section of tramway. One section of the raiding party threw SOU bombs, killing and wounding twenty Germans. The enemy sent up flares and star rockets, and opened with machinegun fire, but the latter soon died away under the bombs from our trench mortars. Documents were captured in one dug-out from which the enemy fled.

It: is expected that at Christmas there will bo an endeavor made to further the peace idea, by attempting to arrange for a temporary cessation of hostilities. So far as Nc'w Zealand crs are concerned any such advances are likely to meet with a hostile reception at the present juncture. On December 21! General Sir Douglas Haig inspected the New Zealanders. He rode past the troops ill line, consisting of one brigade, one battalion from other brigades, and representatives of all other units. The commanding 'officers were officially introduced. The long column then marched past to the music of the bands, the scene being inspiriting and memorable. Our men marched well and looked remarkably fit. General Haig, addressing the corps and divisional generals, again referred to the exceptionally good work of the New Zealanders at the Nomine, and congratulated the commander of the division upon having such a fine body of men under him. He also expressed pleasure at the excellent turnout that day, and the arrangements connected therewith.