ANZAC SUCCESSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1917, Page 4

ANZAC SUCCESSES.

VILLAGES CARRIED WITJH RUSH. HUNS AND THEIR PRISONERS. (From Mr. C. E. W. Bean, Australian Press Representative with the Comi; monwealth Forces). ' London, April 11. The capture of Hermies, Demicouw, and Boursies yesterday morning, involved really stiff fighting. It so happened, that just as the Tasmanians were goto? out to the attack, the Germans counterattacked them with tne view of regaining the ground lost by them the pre. vious night. The Tasmanians were driven back somewhat, but they attacked quickly, and regaining the starting poini duly launched their main attack. They were fighting all day, one company havr ng the Germans in the rear as well as in front of them. The Now South ..-iea troops carried Hermies with a rush. Tho. Germans in places stood up well, fighting boldly. Nearly the whole garrison of Hermies, 200, was surrounded and captured. These German prisoners will probably eventually become some of those welifed, well-clothed, cheerful-faced gangs one sees daily working on the roads 20 or 30 miles behind the British line. Tn dreadful contrast to this there are at tin's moment, lying at Ansae, headquarters, two English soldiers, who two days ago escaped from a prisoners' gang working behind the German line. I have seen and spoken with these two men. They are shrunken and weak, as if after a long illness. They were forced to work on rations barely sufficient to sustain life, without cessation, unless they absolutely dropped. They were exposed to the winter cold without an overcoat unless thoy managed to_ beg one off » Fiench civilian. Filthy conditions, duo to want of baths, had brought tlics» men almost to death. Despite this, they and 100 mates, inclndipg two Australians, were still being ruthlessly slavedriven on the roads. I never should have believed they could have got to tkA condition I saw them in.