WHIRLWIND BOMBING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3028, 15 March 1917, Page 6

WHIRLWIND BOMBING

CLEVER. CAPTURE OF A POINT ON SOMME FRONT.

A little enterprise north of Beaumont. Hamel, referred to in the official communique of some weeks ago, and as a. result of which the British secured two German posts and 08 prisoners, was a. clever and successful. piecc of work. The object of the operation was to try anjl .get. command of positions dominating a German support trench, a well-defined German cutting running uj> towards Serre, and known to be honeycombed with garrisoned dug-outs. This: object has been accomplished. The position was rushed from two directions simultaneously. A quarter of an hour before the inl'anry went over, the heavies lifted their range,'and a whirlwind bombardment broke out from the trench mortars and field guns. The attack was carried out by small parties, divided into three formations.

Although the sun had vanished more than an hour and a half before the soldiers left their trenches, it was not very dark. Prisoners admit that no infantry attack was anticipated until the whirlwind bombardment began, and this was so fierce that they dare not leave their dug-outs. As our men in the lfcft attack swarmed over the German parapet, a sentry, crouching in a-funk-hole; fired three or four shots, then threw his rifle away, broke cover, and bolted. Our troops had got in. without, firing a shot or throwing a. bomb. The raiders • promptly began the work of clearing the dug-outs* challenging the inmates to surrender before using bombs, and meeting with, a pretty satisfactory response. In the. captured dug-outs were found small supplies of iblaclc bread, butter, toes, and some ration cigars. There was no liquor, which is a very exceptional experience.