RAIDERS DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1918, Page 8

RAIDERS DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES.

(Special from New Zealand Corresepoitdent.) , By Cable, May 28. Goaded by our 'harassing artillery fire and continuous raiding, or for some other reason, the enemy has became increasingly active with his artillery. At night he has poured over many gas shells, but with little result so far as the New Zealanders are concerned. Ho has also shelled the front and back areas with guns of. various calibres. Yesterday he put down a heavy local 'barrage, the shells raining in at the rate of aibout sixty per minute on a front of atoouit 3000 yards- As a spectacle this shelling was interesting, though it was not very effective. Some parties of New Zealanders recently distinguished themselves in raiding enemy posts. One company, under a young Auckland officer who wears a ribbon of the Military Cross, has a particularly good record. After an enemy post 'had been located by a patrol, a small party was sent out, but was stopped by machine-gun fire and bomlbing. The company commander later sent out a larger party under an officer. These surprised the post, killing seven and wounding ten or twelve. They also captured three prisoners and two ma-chilie-guns. One of the party, a sergeant, had been slightly wounded in the first venture, but he bravely carried on and did fine work in bombing a ma-chine-gun position. Subsequently a patrol found that the Germans had remanned this post, so another raiding party was sent out- This party successfully attacked it, killing four, wounding six, and capturing one prisoner. A pa/trol of four from the same company had one man shot throng the head. At night an officer went out and carried the body in; that company commander shows what stuff we liavo got in the division. All these were silent raids, that is, they were carried out without preliminary boiribardmeMt, and our losses were infinitsimal.

The troops were delighted to receive a large number of parcels from the Kaikoura Patriotic Association. They ask me to convey their hearty thanks for these timely gifts. DECORATIONS FOR SERVICE. Bar to Military Cross. —Captain K. R. J. Saxon (Rifle Brigade). Military Cross.—Second Lieutenant H. T. Marshall, Rev- C. B. W. Seton, Lieutenant M. A. Stedman, Second Lieutenant J. A. M'llroy, Lieutenant R. J. Grant, Captain H. W. Kennedy (all of the Rifle Brigade). The Corps Commander has awarded the Military Medal to £he following:— Sergeant R. C. Travis, who already has the D.C.M., and Privates R. H. W. Conway, N Thomson, 11. Melville, and A. D. D. Clydesdale (all of an Otago regiment).