NEW ZEALANDERS' GRIM ORDEAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 19, 17 October 1917, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS' GRIM ORDEAL

THE FIGHT AT PASSCHENDAELE SPLENDID DEEDS OF VALOUR GERMAN OFFENSIVE IN TIE BALTIC WILL THE RUSSIAN NAVY LOYALLY FIGHT? BIG BATTLE EXPECTED ON ITALIAN FRONT

Probably the severest and most trying ordeal Uio Now Zcalaudors and Australians havo yet been called on to face was the grim advance through the bogged stretches on tlio Passchendaolo Ilidge. Tlie Now Zealand official correspondent and others convey in their dispatches 10-day a very dear idoa of the nature of tho iask, and of the splendid gallantry with which tho men advanced in the face of decorate udds. With the battle-cry, "Remember Gallipoli!" they fought on. Tho barbed wire had not been cut, and the enemy's snipers were everywhere, firing even on the stretcher-bearers. The official correspondent recites deeds of individual heroism that thrill the blood. The general situation in the "West is unchanged, but tho weather seems to have settled fine again, though the season is getting late. On the Russian front the situation in the Baltic is serious, but not critical. The Gulf ot' Riga and the islands which are the present objective of the Germans are regarded a,s practically lost, but tho gain to the enemy, it is considered, will not be great. Tho indications point to a renewal of activity on tho Austro-Italian front. Tho Austrians havo received huge reinforcements, and moro guns, their fighting strength being practically doubled. Activity is also reported from tho Balkans. LULL ON THE BRITISH FRONT CONTINUES THE ANZACS AT PASSCHENDAELE STIRRING ACCOUNTS OF GALLANT ADVANCE By Telegraph-Frees Association- Copyright London, October 15. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Ihe enemy during tho night heavily bombarded our position on tho main ridge sooth of Broodsicnde. Tho South .Midland Territorials made a successful raid last night north-east of Roeux."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Iteuter.

(llec. October 16, 8 p.m.)

London, October 15. . Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Hostile raiders eastward of Shrewsbury Forest were repulsed. Tho hostile artillery is more active in the neighbourhood of Lens and Nieuport. There is much aerial activity. Four German machines were brought down."—AU6.-N.Z. Gable Assn.-Ecuter.

" REMEMBER GALLIPOLI! " THE ANZACS' DAY OP TRIAL AT PASSCHENDAELE. London, October 15. Mr. Kenneth Murdoch, writing on Saturday, says: "In drenching rain tho Australian and New Zealand troops clung throughout tho night and day to their poor lines of 6hell-holes. The Australians had retired at dusk from the most foremost posts they had captured in yesterday's offensive, and had been mercilessly fired at by snipers and machine-gunners from the spurs parallel to theirs, whilst batteries of iield-guns, brought to within four hundred yards of their new positions, rained shrapnel upon them. Tho new positions becamo untenable, and the men wore gradually withdrawn. They brought in what wounded they could collect, but were now sadly depicted in numbers." Mr. Murdoch refers to the terribly sodden and muddy condition of the battlefield, which was 60 bad that in a number of cases fatigued men fell into shellholes, and, being unable to rise, were smothered. A party of Germans advancing across a bog came under fire, and left their dead standing upright in the mud. "My observations," the writer continues, "included the marshy'faud under Bellvuc Spur, over which tho New Zealanders valiantly advanced. To less heroic .troops it would havo been impossible. During tho height of tho battle the Brigadier, replying tb a colonel's plea for reinforcements, which were not available, sent the historic message: 'Remember the story of Gallipoli!'" Unable to Keep Up With the Barrage. Auotber correspondent, describing tho Australians' advance towards tho village of Passchendaele, said the^men on the left came under strong machine-gun fire from tho left flank. This is explained by the fact that tho New Zealanders had been held up by uncut wire, and a nest of machine-guns and strong redoubts called Bellevue. Tho Germans were thus able to direct an enfilading fire upon Ihe Australians. Vie pushed ahead, though many fell. Meanwhile the New Zealanders, with tho utmost gallantrj', and in spit© of great sacrifices, retired to break a way through the Bellevue Spur defences, which on Tuesday had similarly held' up British troops. Tho New Zealanders gained a useful 300 yards, but their most gallant efforts, though full of noble sacrifices, did not succeed. It is not unusual to meet uncut wire in such attacks. It was specially diffioult to-day, because the weather mado rapid advance behind tho barrage impossible. This gave tho Germans time to get out .their machine-guns after the barrage had passed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THRILLING STORY OF NEW ZEALAND HEROISM

.MEN CROWN THEMSELVES WITH GLORY.

(Special Dispatch from the New Zealand Official War Correspondent.)

October 14. The weather lias been simply appalling. The battlefield is such a sea of mud and waterlogged shell-holes that continued success for our lust attack was an utter impossibility. In addition, our men. found themselves confronted with machine-guns in. strong concrete positions, fronted with barbed wire that had not been cut by the artillery. TJnder the circumstances we had to be content with a very small advanco. Nevortheless we havo accounted for many Germans, and have taken some prisoners. The difficulties in transport and getting in the wounded havo been great, but are being gradually overcome, and tho weather at last seems settled for fine. '1 lie division mourns the loss of several bravo officers and men. Many deeds of great heroism were performed in this light, especially in connection with the re6euo of tho wounded. Our difficulties ean bo imagined when it is stated that it takes six men six hours to bring in oue wounded man from the front.

Heroic Deeds of Valour. In the attack on Gravenstafol on October 4, which wa9 so successful, many heroic deeds were recorded, such as will make the victory livo in our history. Tho manner in which officers and men risked almost certain death or wonadfl in storming the concrete machine-gun _ positions, either killing or capturing their crews, is worthy of the best traditions of the New Zealand men. Many worked and fought till utterly exhausted. Others carried on after being wounded. On 3 man, armed only with a revolver rushed a machine-gun position. His bravery let another man to follow him. Both were funded, and the second man has sinci died, but their action enabled others of their section to get up; the gun was •■\aptured, and the crcw A. Wellington corporal, badly wounded, lay upon tho ground and kept urging his inen. lo attack till a post was captured and its machine-gun crew killed. A Canterbury sergeant, badly wounded, was in command of his platoon, and continued directing and encouraging his men until Tie became paralysed and hclplwn. throughout, ho remained -cheerful. An Auckland lieutenant, acting as adjutant of Ins battalion, had his commanding officLr mid ncting-scamd in command wounded snortly after the Attack connnoncrd. U& took commaud of tho battalion, which reached its final objective. Though only onu junior officer per company was lett, Ho succeeded in holding tho Jine and repelling throe counter-attacks. An Auckland corporal, just beforo roaohinj our objective, had his arm blown oft. With splendid determination he refused assistance, ordered his Tnon to push on, and by his coolness and courage eteadied thcui at a .trying period, rnese aro only a few of tho many bravo and daring deeds that wero dono m this battle that will redound to the credit of Now Zealandera for all time.

TREACHEROUS SHOOTING OF STRETCHER-BEARERS STOPPED BY NEW ZEALANDERS 5 STERN RETALIATORY MEASURES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Eec. October 16, 8 p.m.) . . ' London, October 15. The Australian Press Associations correspondent at Headquarter writes: "The artillery on both sides ,s J" 06 '' : '', :tlT0 J in the liog areas behind tho lines. It wa« inspiring to see the Nnw /lealann and Australian artillerymen with their Eeld-guns urging their splendid horses Inrough tho sea o[ mud in spilo of tho

filioll-bursls. Tho poor beasts wore sometimes caughl in the bo", and shooting ttiem was tho only solution. Tho Auzacs arf l doing wonders in'gettin" un food and ammunition in view of the possibility of counter-attacks. °Tho stretchcrboarcrs worked manfully throughout tho night. At one time it was necessary to call for volunteers to man the strc-tchors. Severn! of the New Zealanders have been wounded whilo thus engaged owing to the tactics of the German snipers. Tho New Zcalanders wero intensely indignant, and when four of their nioii had thus been wounded at one point in a few minutes, their conn-ados initiated stern retaliatory measures, which were speedily effective. By middav practically all tho New Zealand and Australian woumicd had been brought in. Describing tho Anzacs' present position, he savs: "The cuciisy still holds Bellcvue, at tho south-western end, although ilie Heir Zea landers are closing in on Wolf Copse, which well marks their maximum advance. The Now ZeaUnders aro still in great fighting trim, ami impatient because tlio appalling weather compelled a halt before all their Sua! objectives had been taken."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. London, October 15. A German official report states: "The English, penetrated our positions between tho River Scarpo and tho Oambrai-Arras Road, but counter-attacks drove them out.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. WILL HAIG GO ON ALL WINTER? LORD NORTHCLIFFE SAYS BLOWS WILL CONTINUE. Now York, October 15. Lord Northcliffc (British Hjigh Commissioner to tho United States), in an interview, said that Sir Douglas Haig's smashing blows will continue, no matter what tho weather may be. The Germans will enjoy no rest during tho winter. Conditions wero changed, Lord Northcliffc added, since Genoral .Toflio said that France needed men. Francolmd now plenty of men to hold the line, but she wanted America to send a million tons of munitions, which she needed badly. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ON THE FRENCH FRONT i VIOLENT ARTILLERY ACTIONS. , T , , . . London, October 15. . -A- fronch official communique states: "On the Aisno front reciprocal artillery tinng is being continued in the region of tho plateau between Ailles and °f> l nuc * On the right bank ot tho Mouse, there aro violent artillery actions north of Hill 311. German aviators last night bombarded the region of Dunkirk. there were several civilian casualties."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lleuter. (Hoc. October 16, 10 p.m.) . „ . , London, October 16. A ('Tench official communique stales:-"Tlier>j is rinlont artillevv firing in tho region of tho plateaux between Yilles and Craonne."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter.