FRENCH ATTACK AT CHAMPAGNE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6301, 30 September 1915, Page 3

FRENCH ATTACK AT CHAMPAGNE.

°*rt of Trenches in a Single Bound. \ Kec Sept 29, 8o a m & Paris, Sept 28 Champber of Trench wounded from state; tXyhave arrived. They noon on Sa^autry attack began at previous days^. During the three = -^=^a French artillery

made an appalling din day ami night, unceasingly.

Our leaders at the stroke of twelve o'clock, cried: Forward. We shouted like men possessed and wore out of the trenches in a single bound. There was hoc work in front of v*, where the lads' first line was doing good business. They were beyond the Bosche trenches and we doubled to tli2m. 'Piles of German Dead. Wo saw piles of German dead. Farther on we saw craters in which a number of Bosches were buried beneath the earth. We rushed on again and sighted a strong enemy machine gun section iv a pit. W e dashed on them with the bayonet. A stiff fight ensued. Enemy Throw Down Arms. Tha enemy survivors shouted Kane rad and threw down their arms. One officer begged for mercy, saying he had a wife and children, " and offered atoney when spared. Another wounded German said when his company reached the artillery position the gunners and infantry huddled 'round the guns, holding up their hands. The French artillery had made them idiots. All kinds of soldiers, old and young, are all possessed with the one idea to be spared. German 'Reserves Caught and • Shut Off. ltec Sept 29, 9 p m Paris, Sept 28 Critics explain that the capture of prisoners duriug the French advance at Champagne was so rapid and the bombardment so disorgauised the German lines that the German reserves in the centre were caught iv the jaws of pincers and shut off. Marcband, a Fashocla hero, was wounded seriously, but his injuries will probably uot prove fatal. Enemy's % Newspapers Inspired. Amsterdam, Sept 28 The German newspapers are evidently inspired and are unanimous in stating that the Allies timed the breaking of the German front for se curing a final decision. If so the Allies failed.