HEROIC CONDUCT OF ARTILLERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1917, Page 5

HEROIC CONDUCT OF ARTILLERY.

SOLDIERS CARRY THE AMMUNITION LIGHT-HEARTED UNDER TERRIBLE STRAIN. Received Nov. 4, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 3. Mr. Robinson, war correspondent, pictures the ceaseless strain on and the heroic conduct of, the artillery on the western front. A battery was dragged for miles through seas of shell torn mud in incessant rain, the soldiers carrying the ammunition, as it was impossible for mules or ponies to do the work. The guns and men alike are unprotected from the weather. The men sleep on waterproof sheets spread ou the slime, and bolt their food, which is heated at munition boxes. They fall into weary stupor. The officers drop asleep when giving commands. Grey, bitter days, are succeeded by more bitter nights. Despite the enormous physical strain they face all dangers with light-hearted contempt. Never have men better deserved their country's thanks.

ENGLISH PUSHING ON. AEROPLANE ACTIVITY,, London, Nov. 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We slightly Improved out 1 position southward and westward of Passehcndaele and southeastward of Poelcapelle. The Lincolns, Herts, Lancashires successfully raided eastward of Vermelles Rnd eastward of Shrewsbury Forest. There is great activity of hostile artillery eastward of Ypres. A Belgian communique states: There is a violent artillery struggle, especially before Dixmudc. We secured several direct hits on enemy batteries and works. A French communique says: There was a somewhat violent artillery duel north of the Aisne, in tho region of Maison-de-Champagne, and on the right bank of the Meuse to the north of Bezonvaux.

FIRST AMERICANS RELIEVED* NO LOSSES SUFFERED. Australian Cable Association. Received Nov. i, S.lfl p.m. New York, Nov. 3. American 'headquarters in France report flint the first American trenches have been relieved by other battalions. They suffered no losses. ( IMPRESSING THE" GERMANS. BRITISH WORK IN FLANDERS. London, Oct, 12. The Cologne Gazette,-in a remarkable article from its special correspondent, describing the Flanders battle, says: "The British plan was to break the incomparable fighting strength of tlie German soldiers by the tremendous development of mechanical weapons and an un-heard-of accumulation of guns, ammunition, mines, gases, and tanks. But Germany's contempt for this way of'thinking must not prevent us from realising that the scheme is extremely serious. Past English wars show tliat much of England's success was due to her brilliant preparation and equipment. We now know she has real men behind the material and machines.

"Their terrific drumfires," continues the article, "were not unbroken thunder, as heretofore. Instead, they were a series of firestorms of tremendous violence, alternating with periods of less activity. It"was evident that their in'tention was to destroy the nerves of the defenders by introducing an element of uncertainty. What we endured is beyond description. The development of the British air work was also sudden, and it took us some time to catch up to the numerical superiority of the British." The correspondent adds: "When some Australian prisoners were taken it was evident that a big attack was coining. The English always force overseas troops to the front on such occasions, especially Canadians and Australians." The article shows that the Germans censor no longer dares to hide from the public the seriousness of the position in Flanders.