TRENCH FIGHTING IN EPEHY SECTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 228, 24 September 1918, Page 5

TRENCH FIGHTING IN EPEHY SECTOR.

STRONG POINTS CAPTURED AFTER STUBBORN RESISTANCE

LONDON, September 23.

Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: —The fighting at Epehy and Yillers-Uuislain was close and bitter, its nature resembling the old trench warfare, amid dirty ditches, barbed wire, swamps, and ruine. The enemy brought up four new divisions, and assembled many guns, under the covrr of which he launched a series of bombing attacks in which tho bombers were well hidden in the old trenches. This was only a minor action designed to straighten the line. True, we wero unable to maintain all our gains in the face of intense shelling and the difficulties of tho ground and the weather, but the position was improved. The Fourth Army's prisoners since August 8 total over 44,000.

Mr! Gibbs paints a grim picture of the difficulties of the British troops, facing wild weather and heavy rains in country where there is little shelter save tents. Among the swanipe, in slimy dug-outs, under tarpaulins spread over the tops of ruined habitations, our men light, work and sleep in wet clothes. The labour battalions slave hard to reduce the discomfort and improve the roads. The rapid advance of the railways is marvellous.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

Reuters correspondent at British headquarters etates:—The enemy, who had been reinforced, stubbornly resisted in the fighting around Epehy. We carried many strong points, the most important being the web-like trench work called the Quadrilateral, north-east of llolnon. The fighting was of a more hand-to-hand character than previously in the present ofTeneivc We were opposed by the Alpine Corps und two other divisions, besides a new division moved up from reserve. We captured Quennemont Farm by two o'clock. We afterwards withdrew from Qnenncmont Farm. The net gains for the day were satisfactory. We occupied or destroyed many outposts in a troublesome zone and inflicted heavy casualties. —(Reutcr.) Sir Douglas Ilaig reports:—The hostile attack north-west of La Bassec, reported in the morning, was not pressed, and our position is unchanged. In local encounters we elightly improved onr positions south of Villers-Guislain, north-eaet of Epehy, and in the neighbourhood of Zillebcke, in the Ypres sector. A German official wireless message states: —The English launched a great attack yesterday morning between Gouzeaucourt Wood and Hargicourt. Anticipating the attack we had removed our defence east of Epehy to the old Englieh positions between Villers-Guislain and Bellecourt. The attack broke down. A second attempt also failed, although the English temporarily penetrated the south-western portion of VilleraGuislain and Quennemont Farm. They were thrown back by a counter-attack. A French communique states: —Last night was marked only by considerable artillery activity in the St. Quentin region and north of the Aisne. On the Vesle front we repulsed two enemy attacks. Detachments penetrated the enemy lines in the Champagne and in Lorraine.

A later French communique states: —South of St. Quentin we extended our positions east of Hinacourt Ly-Fontaine, and reached the western outskirts of Vendeuil.

North of the Aisne three German counter-attacks were shattered north of Allemant, before they could approach our lines. We gained ground cast of Sancy and took prisoners.—(A. and N.Z. and Keuter.)