GERMANS STILL STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1917, Page 5

GERMANS STILL STRIKE.

SO SACRIFICE TOO GREAT. ENEMY DEAD UNPRECEDENTED. WONDERFUL ARTILLERY ORGANISATION. Received Oct. 7, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. C. Air. Percival Phillips says that although the slopes of Passchciidaelc ridge are covered with dead, the enemy still strikes, and apparently considers no sacrifice too great if he can recover the ground and restore the confidence of the troops. Our success was >.o complete a* almost to be uneventful. -Despite the diilicullies as to communications, we never lost touch with any outposts. Our guns have already taken up their assigned positions and are searching the enemy's country, a wonderful example of perfect organisation of our great force. A thousand German dead wore counted at one position of the Australian front. "Of) more being strewn about the craters further south. The position of the rows of bodies shows that the. ineji were running wildly towards their own rear .when they were struck down. Our ;nen found many craters uninhabitable because they were choked with dead and wounded. ANZACS' GREATEST AND MOST GLORIOUS DAY.

Mr. Philip Gibbs states it was a great day for the Australians and New Zealandcrs—their greatest and most glorious day. They went grimly and cheerfully to their goal over every obstacle. The New Zealanders and Australians were lighting their way up the Abraham heights and took over 200u prisoners. They describe ilie number of German dead as unprecedented. Other Australians, who were lighting for the Broodaeindo cross-roads; counted 010 dead Germans.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AUSTRALIANS AND NEW ZEALAXDERS.

One saw the, Australians going up, lithe, loose-limbed and hatchet-faced; and then the New Zealanders came along, a type midway 'between the English and Australians. They were less lean and wiry, had more color, wore of fuller build, as fine a set of boys as one could see in the whole world. They went up to the front gladly, and talked, some of them, of the battlefield, being cheery and full of confidence. They wanted to go as far as the Australians and do as well as them. Among the Australians also a friendly rivalry existed between the new men and the old hands, the new men wanting to show the old men what mettle they were made of, and the fresh battalions being keen to earn similar honors to those already won by the others. It was certain the Australians would reach the Broodseinde cross-roads, if human courage could get there, without a check, regardless of the enemy's fire. Some went even too fast behind their own barrage.

' NEW ZEALANDERS CARRY ALL BEFORE THEM. In a similar manner the New Zealanuers reached the Abraham heights, carrying all before them. The hardest time was spent last night in the mud and cold, under an intermittent, heavy fire from the enemy, but they stuck it out.

RAPIDITY OF ADVANCE.

HIDDEN GERMANS CAPTURED. ELEVEN COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. HIGH PRAISE OF NEW ZEALANDERS, United Service.

Eeceived Oct. 7, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. fi. Mr. Murdoch states that the New Zealanders fought magnificently, and tho manner in which they brought up their guns is described as worthy of a military tournament.

Mr. Beach Thomas writes that the Australians advanced over the ridge so rapidly that they found Germans lurking behind our first and second objectives. They captured seven officers hidden in ft hole, including three battalion commanders. Our airmen mastered the enemy all day. After our objectives wore won, the German storm troops furiously attacked the wings, each onslaught being heavier than the previous. Eleven times they were repulsed, till eventually a fresh force attacked, regardless of cost, and recovered possession of a little ridge, but It was subsequently retaken.

Two tanks captured two forts which had been holding up the advance.

The New Zealanders never did better than yesterday. With another division they tool: 2000 prisoners, going beyond their objectives. Sleeting a double force of the enemy, which was preparing for a counter-attack, they made have* among them. They have already dug good defences, and are earning the high. est praise for their rapidity of movement.

ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. BRITISH POSITIONS SHELLED. BOMBING RAIDS. Aus and N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. Received Oct. 8, 12.5 a.m. London, Oct. 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our artillery has 'been active ail day on the whole of the battle fronts. In the evening the enemy shelled our new positions on the ridge of Broodseinde and southwards, but did not make any counter-attacks. Our aeroplanes bombed various railway stations and aerodromes. Seven enemy machines were brought down. Five of our machines are missing.