WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1917, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

NEW EALANDERS AT LA BASSEVILLE.

WELLINGTON AND AUCKLAND TROOPS GiUN DISTINCTION.

HEX FIGHT SUCCESSFULLY AND WIXII GREAT ''ALLAN Til?.

(Prom Captain Malcolm Ross Official CVrr.Aji,t.i!ilent with the New Zealand Pprcas at the Pl'ont.)

Northern France. August 9. The troops that distinguished themselves in the recent fighting at La Basscv 'He and its vicinity were from Wellington and Auckland. They fought with great gallantry. Several officers and senior ju>ii-eom.\s became casualties very aarly ia the Wellington unit. At one stage four platoons were commanded by scrponU.

j A BfcpUin distinguished himself. H» led hi* company with conspicuous gallantry in a successful raid and also showed great bravery and initiative in repelling a German raid. One unit accomplished the difficult operation of clearing hedgero',73»the •HrtHiy Hind «»tarnish in g advanced posts. A EtoUaji of aas platoon was stopped by k**Yr machine-fims lire and mat with aasiuilties, I?iforced to withdraw t® ths shelter of shell holes, but snbsso.ueutly, aided by the Wcllingtpn nun, Uiejr ru&hed tin position urul captWM two The lieutea»ut wm *owui«d, but remained till the post was practically made secure. He then made bu way to the dressing station, but first reported to battalion headquarters. The sergeant t'ien assumed command of the platoon and carried on in spite of injury from a shell explosion. Another party met strong rifle fire and was almost wiped out, the lieutenant being wounded. A third party was reduced to three, its corporal in command being killed. A private took command of the remains of these parties. He and another private fired rapidly at the attacking Germans, killing several, while tho remaining twenty-four surrendered. One as. cliia«-Kun, minniiiwerfer bombs, and a truck load of ammunition were captured and a post was estaolished in an exaelleat position. In the operations large numbers of the enemy were killed and forty-five were taken prisoner. The moral of the prisoners was good. They were of line physique and had little complaint to n»*fce nlout their food. They certaiuly Sought well. Nevertheless there is evidence that lh» German Command now know that Uiey are beaten. Several of their regiments are at low strength. Hie men complain of the inaccurate shooting of their guna and there is of a shortage af aeroplanes. Hardened stael body armour weighing ■ nearly twenty-three pounds is being used in the front line.

The fighting in our sector is now again a matter of artillery and patrols. Ihe latter often met and fire on each other in the moonlight. The other night one of our p:itrcl<i came upon an unewy machine-gun crew in a shell hole. They bayoneted one of the enemy and fired at the othere as they fled, but owing to heavy enemy fire were unable to bring the maehine-srun back.

The enemy has apparently been ordered not to show himself by day and remains for the most part in his shellholes. Prisoners captured state that the famous aviator Richthofen received two bullet wounds iu his head in a combat a British airman over the German lines, but landed safely in a meadow and was taken to hospital. The followiug Aucklanders have reoeiveed awards for gallantry in the La Basseville fighting: Ear to Military Medal.—Pri fate Charles Quinn.

Military Medal.—Corporal Henry Mai- ! eolui,' Serjeant Victor William Inch, J Private Robert Richard Smith. Other recent awards are;— | Military Cross.—Captain W. H. M.cjLean.

Distinguished Conduct lledal.—Sergt, C. X. U;vwv, i'ri\jii' Vestey. All the last mentioned are of a Wellington unit.

MINOR OPERATIONS.

London, August 14. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—We made raids north-east of Uouzeaucourt and eastward of . ermelles. We repulsed u caid northwards qf Roeuv. The enemy's artillery is active between Ypres and l.oiubartzyde. A French communique states:—The artillery on both sides is active in Belgium. Reconnaissance parties penetrated the German lines at different points ncrlh-west of Rheims.