GRIM FIGHT FOR CONTALMAISON.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 167, 14 July 1916, Page 5

GRIM FIGHT FOR CONTALMAISON.

GARRISON CUT OFF BY BRITISH ARTILLERY, ROUTED ENEMY CAXJtHT IN BARRAGE OF FIRE. LONDON, July 13. The following dispatch from Mr. Philip Gibbs has been published:— "Prior to the capture of Contalmaison the enemy's ehell-fire grew more intense and widespread than during the past few days. He was bombarding our positions from La Boiselle to Montauban, and fiercely searching the wood at La Boiselle with shrapnel, while high explosives were falling into Montauban village. At 3.30 o'clock in the afternoon the enemy heavily barragcd a straight line below Contalmaison and formed a wall of black smoke, with only a few gaps. "At four o'clock our guns were concentrated on Contalmaison) and the little straggling wood to the right of Mametz, also the German trenches defending Contalmaison ridge. Through the smoke our men moved forward and captured the village. The Germans at Contalmaison knew the position wae hopeles, and when our guns lifted many of those still alive and unwounded streamed out of the village in disorderly retreat, only to be caught by our extended barrages between Contahnaißon, PoEieres, and Bazentin lc Petit, so that the rout became a shambles. "Our men entered the village and thoroughly searched the machine-gun emplacements and dug-outs to prevent further trouble. The Germans within Contalmaison were in a dreadful state. They had suffered to the very brink of human endurance. One prisoner stated that the rations were soon exhausted, and it was impossible to get fresh supplies owing to the ceaseless British gun-fire. The Germans suffered great agonies of thirst. Other prisoners state that the effect of the British fire was terrible- At least half of those holding the village were killed or wounded. When the British entered they walked over corpses, and those Germans who had escaped lay on the ground ■ with their faces to the earth, utterly exhausted." ; Mr. Gibbs concludes: "In ten days, by the wonderful gallantry of our troops and the great power of our guns, we have smashed several German strongholds as strong as any fort on the western front, and defended etub- : Virnly by masses of guns and troops. The enemy is now forced back on his . aext line of defence*. The cost «v great, bat tap enm/frloMM-WBfrgqfUr,