EPOCHS OF THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 74, 26 March 1920, Page 6

EPOCHS OF THE WAR.

BATTLE OF MAl__E_-MAI__ET. ANNIVERSARY OE N.Z. DEFENCE. Two years ago to-day Germany was in the midst of her great offensive, an attack which was launched with a huge concentration of men on a hitherto unprecedented scale in an attempt to break through the line of defence and strike a decisive blow on the Western front. The New Zealand Division were called upon to take part in the conflict after a gap had already been made ill the line and the German -masses were pouring through towards Amiens, Paris and Calais. On the night of March 26 fhey- signalised their participation in the second battle of the Somme by a memorable defence in front of the sugar factory at Mailley Maillet. The First Auckland Battalion, stemmed the German waves on a front of two thousand yards. The defenders comprising two companies, the Third Auckland, under Captain J. G. Coates. and the Sixteenth Waikatos, commanded by Captain 11. R. Vercoe. each two hundred strong, dealt a Btaggering blow, anil kept ofT the attack until relieved by the Second Auckland Battalion. Their ranks had then been depleted to the extent that the roll-call of both companies numbered very few over the half-cen-tury. While the enemy were massing near f.a Signy farm, the reinforcing battalion attacked and captured an important bridge on a commanding eminence. The Germans had anticipated breaking through to Colins camp, an advance of about three thousand yards, and with this object put down an intense barrage, followed this up with an attack in waves of four columns, but were repulsed with frightful slaughter. Far from reaching (heir goal, fhev failed to srain entry into any part of the defenders' territory, and this repulse definitely put a stop to an}" further advance in this sector.