SOMME ADVANCE

Evening Star, Issue 16823, 27 August 1918, Page 6

SOMME ADVANCE

HAIG’S RELENTLESS PROGRESS.

GERMANS ATTEMPT COUNTER-ATTACKS

TO RETRIEVE CRUMBLING FRONT.

NEW BRITISH THRUST

BETWEEN ARRAS AND BAPAUME.

HEAVY RAIN SETS IN.

Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

HAIG’S ATTACK.

Strong attacks, initiated hy numerous tanks, against Bapaume collapsed. Wo threw back the enemy beyond Poziores. The enemy six times stormed against tbo middle. of the front eastward of Albert to the Sonime. We threw them back to La, BoistTe and over the Albert-Bray road. Our projecting lino hero ware withdrawn at night time. _Our night fliers on Saturday dropped 7o ton? of bombs on camps and railway stations. Tho Gorman evening official message states; bleary English attacks on both sides of Bapaume (ailed. FAMILIAR NAMES RECUR. GETTING NEAR COM3LES. NEW "YORK. August 26. |Received August 27, at 8.40 a.m.) The British arc nearing Longueval (seven miles K.N.F. of Albert, at tho edge of the famous “ Devil's Wood.' 1 which intervenes between it and Flers, whero tire New Zealanders made good in the first Sou into offensive). GROSSING THE ANCRE.' THE RAVINE NEAR Ml RAU» MONT. REINFORCEMENTS’ EXCITING RACE. NEW ZEALANDERS’ PUSH FOR BAPAUME. STRONG DEFENCES ENCOUNTERED. I.OXT)OX, August 26. (Received August 27, at. 9.50 a.m.) Jlr Percival Phillips writes: It must not Ik> forgotten tiiat our we 11-won triumphs often mean hard fighting, with severe losses at one or two points; but out losses mi the whole arc light. Sometimes there was grim, close-quarter work with the bayonet in the deep craters by moonlight) when handfuls of tho enemy found thexnsalvea trapped, as fur instance, at Bihucourt and Sapigniea and near Ba-pa.um-o. These included some of the fittest and most skilled Go mums, but they only fought in desperation. The British tide could not be. stored, and tho German infantry' hourly became more confused and inoro helpless. The enemy’s defences were cleared or broken. Thy tried repeatedly to reorganise a coherent line of resistance, but it was just as often shattered into a fragmentary rearguard. The chaos behind Bajvaume could scarcely Iw greater. Perhaps tho German commanders are partly to blame, but their men lost heart. Our prisoners were utterly discouraged. Our movement everywhere along the Albert-Peronne road threatened delay because of the bad pats where it crossed the wilderness of the Somme battlefield, but this was passed, and good roads and fairly good ground were regained. A gallant incident is recorded at Miranmont (on tha Artcre). Tbo British encircled tho garrison, and the enemy tried hard to relievo it. They sent up a strong force which occupied a j-avine. A small British force, pushing ahead of tho town, found themselves at nightfall on tho edge of tho ravine, where they halted. When dawn broke on Friday tho British force found tho ravine full of Germans, and themselves encircled, but they hung on all day. (Other British troops on Friday night waded across tho flooded river A acre, and did a forced march in tho darkness. An aeroplane at dawn on Saturday boro thorn tho message !* “ Hold on ; help is coming.” The enemy in tho ravine did not dare to attack, ami had summoned reinforcements, but tho British reinforcements won tho race, cleared tho ravine, and turned to assist in tho assault on Miraumont, which ■was captured. When the German reinforcements arrived, consisting of one battalion, thev were captured on bloc, (Received August 27, at 10 a.m.)

EXTENSION NORTH OVER SCARPE. TWO MILE ADVANCE ON FOUR-MILE FRONT EAST OF ARRAS. LONDON, August 26. (Received August 27, at 9-20 mm.) British troops attacked along the Scarpe md made good progress. They have advanced two miles on a four-mile front, aptuiing Gavrelle, Monchy-le-Proux, Guenappe, and Wancourt. The attack extended from Famponx to :hc heights north-east of Ncnville-Vitassc. [The Scarpe, part of the Scheldt waterway system, runs east through Arras and Dutiai." Gavrelle is on the Anras-Douai read, five miles cast-north-east of Arras. Famponx is on tho Scarpe and on the Arras-Uouai railway, four and a-half miles cast, of Arras. Monchy-lc-Preux i» south of the Scarpe, between that river and the Arras-Cambrai road, and Guemappo and Wancourt lie on the Gojeul, on tho south side of the road, both being about five miles south-east of Arras, and a couple of miles east of Neuville-Vitosse.] THIRD AMD FOURTH ARMIES, BRITISH ACROSS BOTH ROADS ALBERT-BAPAUME, AND BAPAUME-ARRAS. ENEMY REACTIONS SMASHED. BAPAUME BEING ENVELOPED. Australian and X.Z. Cable Association and (Reuter. LOXDOX. August 26. (Received August 27, at 10.15 a.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports i Hostile opposition increased to-day with the arrival of German reinforcements. Many German counter-attacks were broken with loss under oar fire. Oar troops, despite these counterattacks, fought their way forward with great gallantry, and, overcoming the. resistance, further progressed, taking many prisoners. On the northern bank of tho Somme tha Australians, by a successful attack early in the morning, carried tho enejjiy’s posxiion on the high ground eastward of Bray, while on their left the London and Hast County Divisions continued their advance in the direction ox Carney, and have taken Marnetz (four miles east of Albert). Die Welsh captured Mametz Mood (southwest of Pozierea), In the centre of our attack we mossed tho Alberfc-Bapamne road along its whole length southward of Bapaume, and captured ilartinpuich, Lo Sars, r.nd Le Barque. . Northward of Bapaume severe fighting occurred at Favreuil, and about Mory and ('roisilles (well east of tha Arras-Bapaamo road). We progressed eastward of Behagniea (north of 'Bapaume) and in NeuvilleVitasso (south-east of Arras). A counter-attack against our Givenchy sector (in tie south-eastern corner of tho Lys salient, west of La Bassee) was repulsed. . Aviation report; Our airmen on baturrlav carried out varied work, involving much, low-fiving and artillery observation. We dropped 43 tons of bombs, and Valenciennes and Cambrai railway connections were amongst our targets. ?UTILE COUNTER-ATTACKS. HAIG ENVELOPING BAPAUME, ESPECIALLY ON SOUTH. LONDON, August 25. (Received August 27, at 10.55 mm.) Sir D. Haig reports: Our troops at 3 o’clock this morning attacked in the gcarpe sector, and good progress xs reported. , On the southern battlefront we slightly advanced our lino astride the Somme, and by a successful ojieratjon carried out on yunday wo progressed in the direction of Mari court. The enemy on Sunday evening bunched etror.g counter-attacks southward and northward of Bapaumo, also in the neighborhood of Eancourt, L’Abbaye, and Favreuil, these attacks being repulsed. Northward of Favreuil wo met the enemy with the bayonet, inflicting heavy casualties and taking prisoners. Another counter-attack later in tha evening in tho neighborhood of Favreuil also proved unKnccessfuL Favreuil is in our hands, and we made progress beyond tho village. We irapaovod our position south-eastward of Mory, and westward of CroisaiMce. Heavy rain is now falling along the battlefront. GERMAN REPORT. REARGUARD ACTIONS AND WITHDRAWALS. kustraliaa and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter. Admiralty per Wireless Press. LONDON, August 26, German official: Strong English forces, led by tanks, advancing between Neuville and St. Leg er, collapsed. Our posts at St. Leger (eight miles S.E. of Arras, near Croisilles) withdrew to eastward of Die village.

As soon ns tho British had cleared Mitaumont, the Xew Zealanders, with the assistance of the tanks, attacked Loupart Wood, east of tho Anere, en route to Bapaumo. They found little opposition within, but the trenches beyond were filled with Bavarians. The .Xov.' Zealanders passed over these within two hours. They did not wait to gather their prisoners, but pushed ahead and attacked Grevillers, an old acquaintance, which gave little trouble, _ and by tho middle of the afternoon the Xew Zealanders began fighting for Bapaurno’s inner defences. There were good trenches around tho suburbs and well-wired slopes. Meanwhile other troops climbed the slopes before Bozieres (further south, on the Albert-Bapaamo road) with quickened pulse, in order to gaze on tho promised land behind. They found I’ozieres no longer tho same. Tho old mins are gone, and there are new ruins now_ of British hutments and tumbled cemeteries. z Tho German artillery beyond Bapaume on Sunday were energetically trying to counteract the enemy infantry s instability, but their bar-rage nowhero delayed our advance. Our airmen report- seeing onr patrols inside Bapaume but. these aro probably only reconnaissances. A DISORDERLY RETREAT. CONFUSION IN GERMAN REAR. STAND MAY BE MADE LATER. Reuter’s Telegrams. LOXDOX, August 26. (Received August 27, at 10.00 a-m.) Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters states : The degree of eon fusion behind the retreating enemy is incredible. Reinforcements are hurrying up on the stop-gap principle, indicating that the Germans are desperately pressed, or they would not

thus break up thoir reserves. To-day’s advance has been in the nature of a great sweep from Bray, on the Somme, to north of Bapaume. It is estimated that since 21st August 20,000 prisoners have been taken by the British, and that since July 15 the allied total of captured Germans has reached 100,000. It is reported that our Guards’ outposts have reached the fringe of Bullocourt (on the old Hindenburg line, east of Croisilles), and that we have captured High Wood (six miles E.N.E. of Albert and Eanoourt L’Abbayo (further north), and are advancing upon Longueval. Tho New Zealanders, with tanks helping, had a stiff fight in clearing out the enemy from Lamport Wood, dominating Bapaume, but eventually they took prisoner over 400. A significant fact in the present disorganisation of the enemy is that them is practically no counter-attacking. To-day stubborn resistance occurred at various points, but when this was broken in nowhere did they recur with any increase of strength. (Received August 27, at 11.55 a.m.) Writing last evening, the same correspondent says: Wo havo'reached the most dramatic era in tho war; yet, despite our successes, we ought at present to temper our optimism with caution. Since yesterday morning the enemy have disintegrated over a considerable zone of tho Somme battlefield. In some places groups of Germans are wandering about seeking an opportunity to surrender, and the degree of tho enemy demoralisation in certain places is a great factor in the present situation. iesterday tho enemy cracked up in tho neighborhood ot Thiepval Ridge, but wo must prepare for their recovery on a strong line of resistance. The battlefield scene'was amazing. “LITTLE BERTHA.” THE AUSTRALIANS’ TROPHY. PARIS, August 26. (Received August 27, at 9.50 a.m.) From an early hour yesterday thousands flocked to the Champ do Mars to see tho big gun captured by the Australians, who have baptised it “Little Bertha.” Tho gun, which was taken with its own locomotive, was exhibited with lour trucks containing shells, spare parts, repair shops, and the gmuurs’ Quarters, O.’ho pun weighs 150 tons, its tube is 26ft long, and tho shells are sft high. The, gun can bo fired in any direction according to its movement on curved rails. The detachment of Australians who captured the gun mounted guard over it, and visitors all day Jong cheered and congratulated thorn. -Many of tho visitors travelled long distances from tho provinces. The gun is inscribed : “raptured by tho British Fourth Army, August Bth, 1918.” it is understood that tho gun will later on be exhibited in London. CLOSING ON BAPAUME. PROGRESS ASTRIDE SOMME. NMW YORK, August 26. (lleeived August 27, at 12.25 p.m.) Tho British captured Suzanne and Gappy, ami have reached the outskirts of Thill oy. [Sazanno and Gappy face one another across the Somme, two miles east of Bray. Thilloy is U miles S.S.W. of Bapaume.] PRISONS AND CASUALTIES. A GOOD RATIO. NF.W YORK, August 26. (Received. August 27, at 8.40 a.m.) The British casualties in the Third and Fourth Armies from August 21 to 25 are estimated at 25,000. Tho German prisoners taken exceed 20,000. The British on Sunday captured 1,500 prisoners. LONDON, August 26. (Received August 27, at 9.10 a.m.) Tho Ans trali an a have .captured 12,000 Germans since August 8, this being a larger number than tho Australian causaltics.

MINOR FRENCH SUCCESSES

ON EITHER FLANK. WEATHER BREAKS, BUT CLEARS. Australta.u nti-i N.Z t able .Acrir‘ \ o ll mul lisrulCT. LONDON. Augu.-t 2tS. (Received August 27, at <J a.m.) French communique : Then? in reciprocal artiderv n.ct,Lvity in tho region oil i.assign\ ami between the Ailette and the Aisne. Wo made fresh progress cast of Bagnenx (north of hwissons), and repulsed counterattacks west of Oecy-au-Mont (between Hagneux ami the Allotted. N\ <> took 4(-0 prisoners. There is nothing doing elsewhere. Bad weather hampered our aviator;, from bombing in the daytime, but the weather improved at,' night, and enu bouiiK'r.s dropped 102 tons of explosive in tho rear of tho battlefield, on stations and bivouacs. INiiiinirods lnt.s ivero registered, and fires were observed at Laon, Gmscard, and Gulgnicourt. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, August, 26. (Received August 27, at 10.55 a.m.) French communique ; T hero was lively artillery action at night time in the region of Rove and Bonuvraignes (south of Roy el, and between the Ailetto and the A; no. Knemv raids in tho b cogo; wore remit* less. - BE BENY’S SUCCESS OH FRENCH LEFT. NI'AV YORK, August 26. (Received August 27, at 9.20 a.m.) The French have raptured Frcsnoy-lou-Koyo (thr<-o miles north of Koye, on the road to Cluuilnes). MARGIN’S RIGHT HOLDS. LONDON, August 26. [lUvrivod August 27, at 9.10 n.m.) A (feniiitn cuiuiter-ft-tlaok Gguinst Soissons f:u!n*d ut ioriy. SOISSONS-RHEIMS LINE, GERMANS ABANDONING THE VESLE. LONDON, August 26. (Received August 27, at 9.20 a.m.) The Germans are reported to be 'withdrawing north of tiro A csle. GLOOM IN GERMANY. FIRST MENTION OF THE RHINE. LONDON, August 26. (Received August 27, at 9.10 a.m.) The German Press are admitting tho possibility of tho army retiring to the Rhine. Tho papers admit that the battle is now one of existence for Germany.

SIBERIAN CAMPAIGN.

CHINESE AND JAPANESE FORCE MARCHING TO SEMENOFF’S RELIEF. SAN FRANCISCO, August 26. (Received August 27, at 9.20 a.m.) According to despateh.es from To So to a local Japanese paper, that portion, of the Japanese expedition to Siberia which was sent through Manchuria has reached Harbin. Chinese detachments hare joined the Japanese at Harbin, and tho forces aro proceeding through Manchuria, and are now in the vicinity in which Somenoff’s Cossack army is hard pressed by the Red Guards. CZECHO-SLOVAKS. REFUGEES AND WOUNDED CARED FOR AT VLADSVOSTOCK. WASHINGTON, August 26. (Received August 27, at 8.40 a.m.) 'The Red Cross War Council have been advised from Vladivostock tliat more than 20.000 Czot-ho-Slovak refugees, of whom 4.000 aro children, are in tho care of the American Red Crass. Hundreds of wounded Czeo.ho-Slovaks have reached Vladivostock, still determined to prosecute the, campaign, after desperate fighting against, the Bolsheviks and ’former Austrian"’ and German prisoners. Many refugees were found living in tents and freight cars, in a most pitiable condition, along the Chinese railway and the eastern railway west of Harbin. ALLIES REPULSE ENEMY NORTH OF VLADIVOSTOCK. NEW TORE, August 25. j (Received August 27, at 12.2-5 p.m.) 1 A United Press message from Tofcio j reports that .12.000 enemy troops attacked I tho Allies on tho Usuri front on Sunday, but were completely repulsed. TRUCULENT STILL. AMSTERDAM, August 26. (Received August 27, at 12.25 p.m.) The North Gorman ‘Gazette’ says: “Lord Robert Cecil considers Dr SollVs speech as progress towaivls peace, but the peace programme developed by Lord Cecil would result in depriving Germany of her colonies, preparing her for complete defeat. Lord Cecil is mistaken in supposing that Dr Self's progress lies in that direction. We shall never tolerate the curtailment of our world political rights.” ALBANIAN CAMPAIGN. Admiralty - per Wire-loss Bros*. AMSTERDAM, August 26. (Received August 27, at 10.15 a.m.) Austrian official : We captured a bridgehead northward of Fieri, and crossed the Scmeni River. THE WORLD AGAINST HER. NEW' YORK, August 26. (Received August 27. at 9.20 a.m.) The ‘New York World’s’ correspondent at Cristobel states that Columbia 'South American Republic is approaching a rupture with Germany. President .Suarez, lias appointed Dr Holquin as Secretary for Foreign Relations, and Dr Holquin is strongly anti-Gorman. CLEMENCEAU SIZES IT UP. PARIS, August 26. (Received August, 27, at ,12.25 p.m.) M. Clemencean, in thanking President Poincaro and the General Councils for their congratulations, said: “Only feeble souls could he. surprised by onr recent victories. We are gathering the first sheaves of tho harvest, and others will follow, tho greatest of which will be tho deliverance of the world from oppression and implacable brutality.” [AMERICA AND THE ALLIES, WAB H I.NGTON, August 25. (Received August 27, at 9.20 a.m.) Mr Lansing. Secretary of State, announces that the Italian Ambassador has signed a treaty governing the drafting into the army of Americans living in Italy and of Italians living in the United States. Tho arbitration treaty between tho United States and Japan bus !>ceu extended for five years by Urn signatures of Mr Lansing and Baron Ishii. GERMAN INFANT MORTALITY. NEW YORK. August 25. (Received August 27, at 9.30 a.m.) Dr Custom, of the LTirversity of Geneva, Switzerland, -writing in the New York ‘Medical Journal,’ nays that the German birth rate has fallen off 40 per cent., and tho infantile death rate is £0 per cent, higher than in England. TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. BRITISH BRUTALLY MURDERED. X !•: W ■ YOUK, Angust 25. (Received August 27, at 9.10 a.m.) Tho ‘ New York World’s ’ Washington correspondent says that the allied diplomats have made a statement regarding the cruelties inflicted on allied prisoners in Germany. In one instance a British soldier, wounded in the foot, remonstrated with his guard for being forced to do fatigue duty. He was shot dead when he pushed the guard’s rifle away as the guard was about to strike him with the weapon. A Scats soldier was shot down because he walked slowly owing to having a wounded foot. ENEMY HARVESTS. MR HOOVER’S REPORT. NEW YORK, August) 26. (Received August 27, at 8.40 a.m.) The ‘ New York Times’s ’ Washington cor respondent interviewed Mr Hoover, who said : Tho Germans will have less grain from the 1918 harvest than from that of 1917. Extreme drought in Rumania, extending to Bulgaria and the Ukraine, has affected the grain yield. Rumania now needs grain, and ’Bulgaria will not, be exporting any of the 1918 crop.

WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS

BEAUREGARD DOVECOTE. INCIDENTS IN ANCRE FIGHTING. CHASING FLEEING HUNS. WELLINGTON, August 27. (Special from the Official War Correspondent.) August 23. This morning at 1.30 a.m. the attack launched on August 21 by . General Bvng, after a comparative lull for ono dav, broke out with renewed intensity. It"was a brilliant moonlight nighty and planes hummed above while the artillery thundered below. Following a splendid barrage went tho infantry from eovoral divisions. Our Rifle Brigade still represented New Zealand, though another battalion relieved ono that had already taken a successful part in the advance. Wo continued, to hold our narrow front on tho Ancrc and the defensive flankon the rigid to join up with a British division that had trouble with a strong point known as Beauregard “Dovecote.” H was decided that the “Dovecote” must fall this morning, and while tho English were attacking it our men advanced due east between tho “Dovecote.” and the village of Irlos. From across the Anno name a lot of machine-gun fire, and our men suffered some casualties, but those were really light. Only two companies were concerned in ibis fielding.

Operations at night always make it difficult to stop on the exact objective, and onr men in their keenness went at least 400 yards farther than they need have gone. However, having gone so far, they deckled to hold on to the ground gained. A difficult situation arose in consequence. At break of day they found themselves sitting- in a valley with the cncinv commanding Hie.ir position from a wedge—very much like Gheluvelt, and as was the case during the light for Poldcrhoek Chateau last year in Flanders. Then it was ascertained that there was another attack to be made at eleven o’clock in this immediate vicinity, a.nd that their position was 200 yards inside the area on which the barrage was due to come down. It became, a ease of crawling out under tho German machinegun fire, or remaining to bo shelled by friendly artillery. As soon ns flic position ■ was known a messenger crept back, and succeeded in getting word t<> advanced Brigade Headquarters, so that Hie barrage, which was now unnecessary for this bit of ground, was stopped in time. Thus all ended well, and the. New Zealanders, at small cost, had gained a depth of 700 yards on a, frontage of 800 yards. Tho ojreration then commenced at 11 o’clock. One company from the same- battalion advanced and cleaned out the Gormans who were occupying the valley of the Ancre, immediately north of Miranniont. Some nests of enemy machine, guns were mopped up, and prisoners were taken, and the operation was quite successful. To-day the heat was tempered by a breeze, hut it was no uncommon sight to see. Now Zealanders stripped bare to the waist and being gradually browned by the sun, as thev were on Gallipoli. Everywhere 1 found tho men in the best of spirits. ’Hie fine weather is certainly in favor of a quick advance. ’[’he battlefield provides many interesting sights. Transport, both mechanical and horse, goes lorwa.rd in clouds of dust; batteries are shooting from the open, while, others are moving all forward. The New Zealand artillery is being advanced, and the ammunition columns are feeding the guns with their usual splendid energy and intrepidity. Date in tho afternoon, from po.-dtions well beyond hiorro, I watched the buttle progressing nour Aehict-le-Grand, listened to the ruillo of machine -guns, and saw- big ‘‘crumps’’ from tho enemy 5.9 in guns bursting on the ground, which they had already lost. It whs all a st-i'angley fascinating and thrilling si glit. This morning, when the barrage for the 11 o’clock advances eamo down, hundreds of Huns look to their heels and “ lifted it” for all they, woe woith. Iho New Zealanders chased them up as < lose as they could on tho edge of the barrage, and shot at them both with machine guns and rifles. “We had a great lot of fun up ihcro for a white,” said a cheery wounded rifleman whom 1 met on tho battlefield. Some hours later, away beyond on a rid go, onr men could see other Gormans retreal'ing. At tho Kamo time some New Zealanders spotter! a party of about 20 of the enemy coining towards them an if to surrender. Some were limpinga-s if wounded, lint when they readied a. favorable pod-lion they began to shoot at our men. Thou tho Now Zealanders dealt it out to their httlo party, and in a brief space of time none were loft to carry buck any news of tho battle tci Gormanv. “A platoon officer got six, and I got two,” said a, corporal who was hit later in tho engagement after he had been interrupted in his shooting to take hack a message to company headquarters. Most of our men had but a, poor opinion of the fighting calibre, of the Germans met in this battle. ” The Hun is not slicking it out liko he used to,” raid a, wounded New Zealand corporal ; “ his spirit is gone. r J4)O only good, men he seems to have now aro his machine-gunners. These arc loft till tho last to hold tho positions, and 1 assure you they are getting a very .rough spin.” Returning over I lie e.iv.st of Ferro Ridg’d I found between 60 and 70prisoners whom the Now Zealanders had captured halted by Hie way in charge of about font riflemen. Numbers of olio of our buttaJioriH in reserve bad joined them, and all wore mixed together in quite a friendly party. The Germans were willingly giving away mmvvnin?, .and there was a. hubbub of conversation in. English, French, and Gorman. Neatly all the Germans scorned very glad to be, done with the war, and not in the least, afraid that tins Now Zealanders would eat. them. One young fellow, who just before the war had been a student at Oxford, doubted my statement tliat Hie war might last three years mere. "Germany,” ho said, “was finished.” And he added with emphasis: “Thank, the good Lord that fur mo ’tis at ;m end.” All tho German, prisoners I saw were very kindly treated, and their wounded wore tenderly cared for. Even their walking wounded were taken in our ambulance, ears whenever there was room. In. the afternoon 1 was with tlio officer of our medical corps, who took some of thorn hark in his car. Ho was we.ding in a. otvek yesterday when our men, with machine-gun lire, drove in 240 Germans upon a position hold by some English troops. To these latter the Germans promptly surrendered, and were marched oil’ as their prisoners. “Hard luck for the. New Zealanders,” I said to tho Now Zealand officer. “ Never mind.” ho said ; “it all goes to win tho war, and these Tommies fought well.” As 1 write at the end of a long day to catch the last despatch-rider the loud and continuous thunder of the British guns beats on the air. They have been busy now for 20 hours, and seem as if they would continue far into the night or the next day. The- tanks arc creeping forward towards the battle front. It has been a busy day for Lwdendorff. To-mor-row Bapa-umo will be in danger, and it is perhaps within tho bounds of possibility that the Now Zealanders may have a hand in it s' fall. An grist 24. Though, the present battle has interfered somewhat with our education scheme, the lectures in connection therewith are being daily given within sound of the guns. Arrangements have also been made by tho Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland and with various farmers and owners of stock .by which officers and men on leave can Visit and inspect farms and slock in Scotland.