FORWARD, AUSTRALIA!

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 205, 28 August 1918, Page 5

FORWARD, AUSTRALIA!

A SPZ>EH__D EXPLOIT. LONDON, August 27. Mr Gordon Gilmour, correspondent at Australian headquarters, describing the Australian advance says: "Although the Germans in places put up a strong fight, when the attackers, after a series of short, sharp rushes, came within striking distance, the gunners showed tho greatest readiness to surrender. Whole bodies of Germans at one point ran forward precipitately, throwing down their arms. Several were shot down by their own officers from the rear. The prisoners include representatives of five divisions, affording evidence of disorganisation behind the front One former Harvard University man admitted, that the offensive last Mart— was intended to reach the Channel ports. When it failed in this' design the line swung southward, but they did not hope to capture Paris. When the Australians reached the final line aimed at, the officers eaßed for more artillery and pushed on further. This splendid exploitation resulted in the capture of the ruined viDage of Chuigncs, with 12 guns, one a 15in piece. The extension of these operations caused the hurried withdrawal of German guns from the threatened valley south of the Somme. The attackers pressed forward through, zones which the German heavy guns had saturated with gas, and reached the line en_ra__g Oaronnc Wood, and Square Wood be 'ore nightfalL A German counter-attack lias driven off i with the bayonet, this being the only [time the bayonet was used.—<A. ap» N.Z. Cable.)