BATTLE OF THE WOODS AT CONTALMAISON.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 168, 15 July 1916, Page 5

BATTLE OF THE WOODS AT CONTALMAISON.

DETERMINED BRITISH ATTACKS ON SECOND LINES.

FIERCE HATRED SHOWN IK HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING.

LOXDOX, July 14.

The following dispatch from Mr. Philip Gibbs, in continuation of his narrative of the capture of Contalmaison by the British, has beer _ jblished: "The battle of the woods raged round Contalmaison. Its chief characteristic was the determined effort of the British to take and hold the copses and small forests between the first and second German lines. "The British euccesees at Contalmaison were largely due to progress attacks on the woods to the right and left. These were nicknamed the 'Bailiff Wood' and 'Pearl Abbey.' Four attacking columns stumbled forward carrying bags, rifles, bombs, and machine-guns, and covered with muddy slime. Both luck and weather were against these gallant battalions. Despite enfilading machine-gun fire from the 'Bailiff' and Mametz woods, they penetrated deeply into Contalmaison. They were compelled to withdraw until supplementary attacks gave them the oport,unity of completing the occupation. "Mametz "Wood became a place of terror on Monday. The Germans were crouching behind gnarled roots with bombs and machine-guns. Our guns progressively barraging the enemy's line with waves of high explosives, then swept forward, the infantry following in short, eharp rushes. Some, in their eagerness, advanced over-far. The horrible chatter of the machine-guns continued all night. It was a night the men may well look back upon throughout their lifetime with wonderment that dawn came. •'The infantry at daybreak went across magnificently, and within two hours occupied the whole of Contalmaison. Fierce hatred was exhibited ill the hand-to-hand fighting. The British killed two hundred Germans who refused to surrender." EARLY REPORTS OF THE FIGHTING.