WITH NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 37, 7 November 1918, Page 6

WITH NEW ZEALANDERS IN THE WEST

THE ADVANCE ON LE QUESNOY (Special Dispatch from tho New , Zealand Official War Correspondent, Captain M. Eoss.) October 29. Our line remains almost stationary in the vicinity of the railway north-west of Le Quesnoy. Since the Rifles went into the line there have, been only patrol actions; 'Posts we're established across the railway, but some had to fall back in the face of opposition from superior numbers, the enomy apparently thinking ill was imnortant to hold this position. One of "our platoons, exploiting its success beyond the railway, was cut off, and apparently several were captured. They have not since been heard of. The enemy's shell-fire, including gas, has been heavier than for the past six weeks, and his machine-guns aro active along the whole-corps'front. Our men have been thrice counter-attacked. . Each attack was repelled, aud our men more than made amends for their loss. One counter-attack following upon a heavy minenwerfer and artillery bombardment,was repelled by rifle and Lewis-gun fire, tlioVnemy suffering heavy losses. , Ihe enemy's forces are still practically disorganised, and he has been compelled to throw into the line units under the command of divisions other than their own. Decently a large wooden cross was erected a't a factory corner near Flers, in memory of the New Zealanders who fell in the second battle of the Somme. The scene was a remarkable one. The party arrived at nightfall, and the cross ivas erected by candlelight amidst a scene of desolation, in which there was no sound of gun nor sign of living man. One of our batteries of field artillery has been selected as the model battery if the whole army, and will proceed to the base for two or three months to act as such. The general, addressing them just after coming out of tho line, congratulated them upon the honour. There is a great demand for this years ■'Christmas magazine, which excels last year's both iu letterpress and illustrations. Twelve tons of paper were secured for the issue, and will provide only a sufficient supply for the troops. Sales to the public are, under the circumstances, impossible. Fifty thousand Christmas cards have been sold. The lino in our sector for the moment is stationary. The Rifle Brigade/ is carrying on good work from positions left them by the South Island Brigade, and are harassing the enemy night and day on the north-western flank of the fortress of Lo Quesnoy. An Knglish division on our right is doing equally good work. A night raid, under cover of an artillery and trench mortar bombardment, was carried out by one officer and two platoons, and resulted in several of the enemy being killed, and tho capture of two machine-guns and threo prisoners. Our casualties were nil. ' Later, in broad daylight, one officur and five men, with a Lewis gui) followed a medium Irench-iuorlar shoot along the railway. A patrol officer, seeing forty of the enemy gathering near the bankwithin one hundred yards of tho run, rushed, in and killed some. The remainder showed sigus of faltering at this juncture, and the rest of the patrol came up. All the enemy were either killed or captured. Our men returned triumphantly with one officer and thirty other prisoners. These plucky iNew Zenlanders had no casualties. Within a few days possibly the New Zralanders will play a conspicuous part in the fall of Lo Quesnoy. It is a town fortified on the Vauban system, with nn outer moat iorty-five feet wide and thirty-six feet deep, and a redoubt every two hundred yards. There are underground vaults, cellars, and barracks, capable of sheltering between ouo thousand and two thousand men. The civilions were told to leave the iown on October 27. Tho Gorman orders were that the town was to be held at all costs. Nevertheless it will fall. In the meantime the enemy is said tn be feverishly working on the Mons-Miuibeuge, or Bninhihle line, to which n retirement may ultimately be made. It is reported the line is being dug largely by civilian labour.. The news of the Eastern armistice, while inspiring our troops to final victory, had been quietly recelvv ed at the iront.