WESTERN ATTACK.
UNAVAILING HEROISM. NEW ZEALANDERS' TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES. SNIPED, MACHINE-GUNNED, AND BOMBARDED. CAUGHT IN BOGS AND UNCUT WIRE. x United Service. Received Oct. 10, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct, 15. Mr. Murdoch, writing on the 13th, says: In the drenching rain the Australian and New Zealand troops clung throughout night and day to their poor lines of shell-holes. The Australians had retired at dusk from their most advanced posts captured in yesterday's offensive. They had been mercilessly sniped and machine-gunned from the spurs parallel to theirs, while batteries of field guns were brought within 400 yards of their new positions and rained shrapnel, the positions becoming untenable. The men wore gradually withdrawn. They brought in what wounded that could be collected, but were now sadly depleted in numbers.
Mr. Murdoch refers to the terrible sodden and muddy condition of the battle-field. For example, there were a number of cases of fatigued men falling into shell-holes, and, being unable to rise, were smothered. A party of Germans advancing across a bog came under fire, and were left dead, standing upright in the mud. My observations included the marshy land under the Bellevue Spur, over which the New Zealandors valiantly advanced. To less heroio troops this feat would have been impossible. During the height of the battle a brigadier, replying to his colonel's plea for reinforcements, which were not available, sent the historic message: "Remember the story of Gallipoli." Another correspondent, in describing the Australians' advance towards the village of Passchendaele, says: "The men on the left came under strong machinegun fire from the left flank. This was explained by the fact that the New Zealand ers had been held up by uncut wire and a. nest of machine-guns in a strong redoubt called Bellevue, and thereby enabled the Germans to pour a direct enfilading fire into the Australians. We pushed ahead, though many fell. Meanwhile the New Zealanders, with the Utmost gallantry, and despite great sacrifices, retired to break their way through the Bellevue Spur' defences, which, on Tuesday, had similarly held up the British troopß. The New Zealanders gained a useful 300 yards, but their most gallant efforts, •though full of noble sacrifices, did not succeed. It is not unusual to meet uncut wire in such attacks, but it was especially difficult to-day, because the weather made a rapid advance behind the barrage most difficult, giving the Germans time to get out their machine-guns after the barrage had passed."
ARTILLERY IN BOG AREA. ANZACS DOING WONDERS. STRETCHER-BEARERS SNIPED. GUB. BOYS IN GOOD TRIM. Received Oct. Hs, 8.45 p.m. London, Oct. 15. The Australian Press Association's correspondent at headquarters says the artillery on both sides was most active in the boa; areas behind the lines, It was Inspiring to see the New Zealand and Australian artillerymen with their fieldguns, urging their splendid horses through the sea of mud, despite the shell bur|ts. The poor beasts were sometimes caught in a bog, and then shooting them was the only solution. The Anzaes are doing'wonders in getting up food and ammunition in view of the possibility of counter-attacks. The stretcher-bearers worked manfully throughout the night, at one time it being necessary to call for volunteers to man the stretchers. Several New Zealanders were thus wounded by German snipers. The New Zealanders were intensely indignant when four were thus wounded at one point in a few minutes. The New Zealanders initiated stern retaliatory measures, which were speedily effective, and by midday practically all the New Zealand and Australian wounded had been brought in. Describing the Anzaes' present position, the correspondent says the enemy still hold Bellevue at the south-western end, although the New Zealanders are closing in at the Wolf copse, which marks their maximum advance. The New Zealanders are in great fighting trim, but they are impatient because the 'appalling weather compelled a halt beIfore all the fina} objectives were taken.
VIOLENT ARTILLERYIXG. Received Oct. 16; 10 p.m. London, Oct. 16. A French communique states there is violent artillerying in the region of the plateaux between Villes and Craonne. A SUCCESSFUL RAID. London, Oct. 15 Sir Douglas Haig reports;— The enemy last night heavily bombarded our positions on the main ridge southward of Broodseinde. South Midland Territorials made a successful raid last night north-eastward of Roeux. GUNNERY ON" FRENCH FRONT. j London, Oct. 15. A French communique says:—On the Aisnc front reciprocal artillery fire continues in the region of the plateau between Allies and Craonne. On the right bank of the Meuse there were violent artillery actions north of Hill 344. German aviators last night bombarded the region of Dunkirk, causing several civilian casualties. WHAT THE GERMANS SAY. London, Oct. 15. A wireless German official report says: '—The English penetrated between the Scarpe aivl tile C&mbrtii-Arras road, but ' drove them out.
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Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1917, Page 5
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797WESTERN ATTACK. Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1917, Page 5
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