THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16083, 13 December 1917, Page 7

THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

vSOTJTH ISLAND MEN IN ACTION. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, December 12. The following message, dated December Bth, lias been received from the New Zealand official war correspondent, MiMalcolm Rose: — "Following tho recent attack by men from Otago and Canterbury battalions, supported by British artillery, an enemy concentration, assembling apparently for a counter-attack, was dispersed by our barrage, which was promptly put down, and which caused severe casualties. "Smail groups of enemy infantry were also broken by our machine-gun and rifle lire. All the evidence points to the fact that the enemy lost heavily. "Our Lewis gunners" and snipers seldom, if over, had such an opportunity of bowling over the enemy in the open. Ono man in a few days put 25 Germans out of action. Old hands were enthusiastic regarding their opportunities and achievements. Ono German, sniping from a tree, was brought down by a fine shot at long range. the final objective was not entirely gained, ground was taken and held against most strong enemv opposition. "Some junior officers and several men were killed or wounded in determined efforts to capture 6trong pill-boxes, with machine-guns, guarding a ruined chateau that was vory strongly held. A captain and signaller were killed when merely a few yards off one of the strongest nill-boxes. . " on , e Particularly strong pill-box has since been ascertained to have held between /0 and 80 men, with four ma-chine-guns. ®* a £°s wore held un by f ]AfvZ; (i Ca ° t erburys formed a • fl > vo an j c ' under machine-gun and riflo fire and some shelling from the front and right flank. "In our new sector the ground is of a sandy nature, that will enable us to hold our winter trenches with less disrffe thc widths