THE CAMBRAI BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1918, Page 5

THE CAMBRAI BATTLE.

AN AMERICAN VERSION. San Francisco, Dec. 17. Cabling regarding the destructive British gunfire around Cambrai, Philip Sims, the well-known American war correspondent, on December Ti, said:—"Americans were again in action around Cambrai with the British to-day. They, were members of the same American engineering units who last Saturday and Sunday were caught between the lines, and who threw down their tools and grabbed British rifles. The Americans have suffered some losses, but their detachment is proud of the opportunity to do its bit and to be the first American unit to suffer in the great war. "The battle of Cambrai continued with unabated ferocity to-day. Fighting like wild eats, the British have been stemming tlje foe, and where they have been forced to give way they have only done so in their own good time, after repulsing all attacks. This plan held at Masnieres. It has been followed elacwhere. The fields near Queant, around Bvpg's new salient, down to Vandcheuli, are filled with dead Germans Fifteen waves deep the enemy came to the attack.

FEARFUL EXECUTION. "In these solid phalanx-like columns British artillery, machine guns, and rifles did fearful execution. West of Bourlon one British machine-gunner fired 70,000 rounds on one gun in a single day and all at a range of not more than 1200 yards. It was only one rapid-fire gun of many directed at the solid masses, but they never seemed to make an impression on the fifteen-wave lines. The dead dropped in lines and piles, but other grey-coated fighters filled the gaps. WHAT ONE LIEUTENANT DID. '•'The exploit of a certain tank lieutenant is an example of British spirit in battle. The tank's captain-in-charge was killed early in the day. A sub-lieuten-ant took charge. A few hours later his' tank was hit squarely by German shells. The lieutenant got bis men out of their steel wagon, and had them entrench near by. Then alone he clambered back into the tank and personally worked the Lewffl guns that stuck out of its barbettes in front. He worked them so rapidly they got rcdhot, and ho van out of ammunition. He had to leave the tank. But the lieutenant was still anxious to fight. He and his men found a Gorman machine-gun near by, and with it attacked 200 Germans. They held the Germans until British infantry panted up and grabbed the enemy position.

UNEXAMPLED FIGHTING "British officers win have been through the war mill declare there never has been heavier fighting than that which the Cambrai section has seen lately. Attacks and counter-attacks succeeded each other endlessly, bringing the action into one vast battle. The most violent fighting was apparently around Lavacquirie. Field-Marshal Hindenlrarg is giving Crown Prince Ruppreclit fresh divisions. They have beer, pouring in from all directions. Probably some of them came from 'Russia. The Bavarian prince is flinging them into the struggle in the old German style—masses upon masses. From prisoners it seems apparent Germany is exerting her most desperate effort, anxious to force a break Before the Americans arrive in force. Prussian and Grenadier Guards', the very pick of the Teuton forces, are iu the very thick of the battle,''

OFFICERS' AMAZING DEEDS, London, Dee. 11. Mr. Perry Robinson (Times' correspondent at British headquarters), giving details of the German counterattacks at Masnieres and Rues Vertes, relates the remarkable individual heroism and resource of several officers. A staff-captain was surprised and captured and taken to brigade headquarters at Rues Vertes. He killed his captor with his walking-stick, then escaped, gathered a few signallers and orderlies and hunted out the Germans from a portion of the village. Then he tackled a troublesome machine-gun. His six companions were killed, but the officer, using two revolvers, killed eight men and captured the gun, with which "he. fired ou the enemy, aided by a few additional Tommies, until he was reinforced He probably saved the whole Masnieres position. The Germans swarming in through the sunken road towards Rues Vertes confronted another captain working two Stokes guns. All the gunners had been killed, and the officer remained until the ammunition was exhausted, ilo broke up the. attackers again and again, and held the road until he was relieved, severely wounded. . In the same neighborhood, :i colonel witih a few men, using Lewis guns, held a position for 90 minutes, and fired SCO rounds. They killed hundreds of the densely-massed enemy. They lost 40 gunners, then they disabled their guns, and escaped.