BRITISH TROOPS PRAISED.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1918, Page 4

BRITISH TROOPS PRAISED.

COOL COURAGE AGAINST OVEEWHELMIXU ODDS. London, March 24. Our men behaved with the utmoat gallantry and made the most stubborn resistance. There were never greater examples of coot courage against over* whelming odds. The machine-gunnert continued mowing down swathes of afc taekers until they were practically surrounded. The spirit of our troops is excellent Many believe that this is the commence* ment of the last great battle. If we? now sufficiently punish the enemy hi* moral will be such that he will be un-i likely again to attempt a serious attack. The presence of German tanks is no* confirmed, the enemy rather relying on' artillery, mi.ving gas'shells with high e» plosives. Our losses in prisoners are possibjy ponsiderable, but we exacted an enor-< mously heavy toll. The upshot, of the( impending battle is awaited with confid-( ence. The war correspondent of the Gazette, says that, notwithstanding \hi extensive preparation-, the attack was a; complete surprise. The British had not expected it and soon tho opposing flrtillerv did'not reply with ihe same vigor. After the first line lwdbeen taken the' light artillery was brought forward but mist prevented accurate-' shooting, fiiakIng the capture of the second line diflieuU and only achieved after desperate fight-. inf. - The English arc showing cxtraor-f dinary bravery.. Other German correspondents predicf a great offensive in Lorraine.