CAPTURE OF BAPAUME.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1917, Page 3

CAPTURE OF BAPAUME.

LETTER FROM A GENERAL.

Writing from France to a Perth friend, an Australian general says: "We are having a most exciting time, and have so for the'past fortnight. I am proud to say that it was ray division that had the luck to take Bapaume, the place on which our eyea had 'been fixed for so long. There was continuous fighting going 011 for some considerable time, but wo pressed the Boche on and out of the trenches, the men living and fighting absolutely at times up to their waists in mud. But they have been splendid, and never gave the Boche a moment's rest, and followed him, in fact, resolutely- on liis heels, into Bapaume and Transloy. "I was able by the skill of my driver to get my car into Bapaume yesterday morning. It was the first caij there after 'we captured it. It i 3 a most interesting and historical old place, fis you know, and the enemy had turned it into a modern fortress of great strength. Fortunately ho has been forced to leave without an assault actually oil his prepared lines, but before I'e felt he lias done, as he invariably does, his best burn, wreck, destroy and defile everything. "The country is ideal for open warfare, the sort of country one dreams of. I walked on to where my advance guard troops were hotly engaged with the'Uoehe rearguards, but we are steadily pushing them back. How far they are going I know not. It is sufficient for our 'boys to know they are going. Our men will forget their past hardships and trials and forget'they !iave been engaged night and day for weeks past, and their only trouble is they may not be allowed to press on the pursuit of the despised Hun, and they like it none th." less because picked rearguard troop* ;*! the enemy are contesting the way in

the most obstinate manner. I belie ithe news has been cabled to Austvnllp that it was Australian troops that too. Bapaume, and I hope it will arouse people in Australia to further efforts tu send us men. They surely will give n> the means to keep the divisions in the field going. They won't deny us the satisfaction of being in at the death."