CASHING ADVANCE BY THE NEW ZEALANDERS

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 240, 7 October 1916, Page 5

CASHING ADVANCE BY THE NEW ZEALANDERS

TERRIFIC HAMMERING BY BIG GUNS BEFORE ATTACK. AH, OBJECTIVES GAINED AND HEM. TANKS GO WELL AHEAD OF TEE TKOOPS. (From Air. iialcolui Koss, New Zealand OQclal T.'ar Correspondent.) N.Z. HEADQUARTERS IK FRANCE, October 1. This afternoon the Otago and the Canterbury Regiments successfully attacked a German strong point and a new trench beyond Flers. The Aucklanderj and the Rifle Brigade held the position on the right, and the Wellingtons that on the left. The operation was preceded by a tremendous bombardment, in the midst of which appeared flame shells sending fire along the trench and great rings of black smoke into the air. The bombardment extended for miles along the line, affording a •α-onderful spectacle. The intensity of the fire on the sector attacked by the New Zeaianders exceeded anything I witnessed either in July or in September in the Somme battle. Following a leaping barrage, the Xew Zeaianders quickly gained their objectives. The zeal of the Otago men in pursuing the flying enemy carried ' them beyond their objectives. Meeting machine-gun fire they returned. The Wellington!-, coming up behind the Otago Regiment, occupied the ground which the lntter previously licld. Tanks took part in tlio attatk, and were seen well in advance of the positions occupied by our troops.