NEW ZEALAND'S PART

Evening Star, Issue 16550, 9 October 1917, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND'S PART

AT GRAVENSTAFEL AND ABRAHAM HEIGHTS Described by Pbilip Gibbs. SUPERB VALOR AND SANG-FROID AMONG BLOCKHOUSES AND PILL BOXES* THROUGH WAIST-DEEP SWAMPS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

LONDON, October 8. (Received October 9, at 8.35 a.m.) Mr Philip Gibbs writes: The New Zeaknders had many fights on the way to Gravenstafel and Abraham Heights. They were surprised at tho number of "pill boxes" and blockhouses. Apparently the Germans had thrust little groups of men into the forward blockhouses, with orders to hold them at all costs until the German attacking divisions reached them. Iu consequence of this proposed German attack the enemy guns made a heavy barrage over the British lines for half an hour before our attack commenced. The New Zealanders did not escape this shelling. Their brigadiers experienced intense anxiety, not knowing from their dugouts, over which the enemy's fire passed, whether the New Zealand boys were being so cut up that a successful assault would bo impossible. Fortunately the New ' Zealanders were not seriously hurt nor thrown into disorder, and when the moment came they " went over the top " like a pack of hounds on a good hunting morning. They had not gone more than a few yards before they took 50 prisoners. There was a blockhouse just outside the New Zealand assembly line, and its garrison surrendered without a fight. Our gunfire had smashed the track of a stream near by, making the ground a swamp. The New Zealand lads had a devil of a time getting through this. Borne of them fell into shell holes of mud up to their belts, but the men on solid f round hauled out those in the slough, "his meant a great risk from our barrage, for travelling on with tho protecting screen of shells is the only way to safety in these battles; the one tiling is to keep close to . the barrage. However, the New' Zealand lads somehow managed to scrambls Dver 800 yards in time to catch up with the barrage. The first fight for a blockhouse took place at Vanmeulen Farm. The New Zealand boys began to drop under tho rain of bullets from the farm, and they were held up for half an hour, until the "leap-frog' battalions"—that is, men who are going to pass through the fh"st waves to the next objective—came up to help. A new Zealand captain, beloved for Ms gallantry and generous-hearted ways, led a rush of Lewis gunners, bombers, and riflemen. The captain fell dead with a bullet through his heart. With a cry of rage the rest ran on and stormed the blockhouse. . On the left one New Zealand battalion could see the Germans firing from concrete houses on the slopes of Gravenstafel. Although they had to lose their barrage, which was sweeping ahead again, the New Zealanders went straight for those places under a sharp fire. Some of them worked round the concrete walls and hauled out more prisoners. Hardly a New Zealander would go back as a prisoners' escort to the Brigadier, who came out of his dugout to see what was happening, and received the first news of victory from the batches of Germans marching m company formation under their own officers without any escort.

There was a steady machine-gun fire from Abraham Heights, until the New Zealanders climbed round the enemy from dugouts which were screened' by our barrage. Only the great gallantry of bigh-. spirited youngsters could have done this./ The storming of Abraham Heights proves the_ quality of the New Zealand fooops, their keenness to do well, and their recklessness regarding the cost. A lot of prisoners were taken at Abraham Heights. The_ next resistance met with was ai "Berlin," which is a row of dirty concrete " pill boxes" above a deep cave. The German machine gunners defended it stubbornly, but the New Zealanders brought up some Stokes mortars and fired 30 rounds in two minutes. Then with a yell, they rushed the position from both Hides and flung bombs through the bacl< door -until part of the garrison streamed out, shouting "Surrender." The other men stayed inside, while the New Zealanders drank soda-water and smoked high-class cigarettes which they had discovered at a farm where a German battalion commander and his Staff had been j taken prisoner. -After this refreshment the New Zealanders went out to Berlin Wood, where several "pill boxes" were hidden among fallen trees and mud heaps. Thev had to make their way through a machine-gun ■barrage from one house. A German officer directed this fire, and when one gun was silenced he came out with another and fired round the corner of the wall until our men rushed it. Even then the officer raised his revolver, but he was killed by a bayonet thrust.

. Elsewhere/the English boys -were fighting _-with equal courage, some battalions against an even fiercer gunfire. The English opposed to Ghcluvelt, Polderhoek, and Rnnelbeke endured some bad hour=>. We now hold the outer houses of Ghelu--11 P 11 * swam P s are even worse than the New Zealanders encountered. The Englishmen fought forward doggedly ;and by sheer valor safeguarded our right wing. The Irishmen astride the Thoorout .Railway also fought recklessly," and the Pevons and the Scottish Borderers fought m a most gallant fashion.