NEWS OF THE NEW ZEALANDERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3085, 16 May 1917, Page 5

NEWS OF THE NEW ZEALANDERS

DISPATCH FROM THE OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENT.

Tho following special dispatch has been received from the New Zealand war correspondent (Captain Malcolm Ross), dated May 10: — For some considerable time there has been little to report on our sector but lately there has been increasing artillery activity, and at times intense bombardments. There was one heavy intermittent bombardment by the enemy throughout the night, but our artillery returned the enemy's fire witli interest, making his position in the trenches and the back area Very uncomfortable. . Our divisional artillery has also carried out destructive shoots with aeroplano observation. Air activity has also increased, and we have witnessed daily thrilling air combats. It is a splendid sight to see flights of sixteen 'planes flying across the enemy's lines, and calmly ignoring hundreds of the enemy's shells bursting _ about them. Occasionally 'planes on either side are brought down, but invariably the honours are with the British. Thero were some attempted raids against the New Zealanders, but they did .not succeed. One was dispersed by our artillery, trench mortars, and machine-guns, and the enemy failed to reach our lines. Another raid.was planned, to gain information whether tho troops on our sector had been withdrawn froin the Arras battles. In tho early morning, following upon a heavy bombardment, sixty Germans were seen advancing across No Man's Land. A few succeeded in entering the trenches. At first we feared that two of ours had been taken prisoners,, but wo learned later that ono got hack wounded, while the other was killed. We\ captured one German who had been recently called np after being six times rejected owing to heart weakness. Tho morale of the enemy is not good.' Only thirty volunteered for the raid.

During the battle of Arras some _of tho New Zoalanders repaired - the roads in the wake of tbo advancing'infantry. They even captured prisoners and assisted in bringing others in; They havo secured two D.S.O.'s and inanv Military Medals. Beautiful weather prevails. The mud has disappeared. Our men, who recently have been receiving special training out of the trenches, look remarkably well. The division has never been in better form, and the discipline is excellent.