NEUVE CHAPELLE FIGHT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16806, 16 March 1915, Page 7

NEUVE CHAPELLE FIGHT.

SIGNAL SUCCESS OF BRITISH. BATTLE DESCRIBED BY "EYE-WITNESS." By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, March 14. "Eye-witness" at the British headquarters says:— Our offensive at Nenvo Chapelle was attended by signal success. The fire of many guns and howitzers in opening the bombardment is described as tho most tremendous, both in noise and effect which tho army has over seen or heard.

Within half an hour after tho signal for attack had been given, _ almost the whole of an elaborate series of German trenches was in our hands, with hardly, oxoept at one point, any resistance. Many of tho trenches were blotted out and filled with dead and dying, partially buried under earth and debris. The 'majority of the -survivors were in no mood for further righting. Meanwhile on our right from Richebourg a similar advance was progressing towards a rectangular one thousand yards south-east of Nonve Chapelle. The resistance was slight, and we reached a point four hundred yards eastward. Others to tho northward were fighting long after darkness. The enemy were then considerably shaken, ana were surrendering in some part* in groups. Tlie Germans throughout the. day held a strong position nicknamed "Port Arthur," at*an angle formed'by cross-roads southward of the village, protected by a perfect network of* trenches and barbed wire. The struggle raged until 5.30, when we stormed and carried the position with the bayonet.

The British displayed tlie utmost dash throughout the operations. Conscious that an old score had been paid

off, tho enemy at one time being on the run, the field hospitals and ambulances wero filled with- the cheeriest crowd of wounued. . . An Allied airman destroyed the pier of a railway bridge at Menin. Another completely" wrecked tho Court'rai station. Both points wero of vital importance to the enemy's communications. .

OFFICIAL NEWS.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGE.

The Prime Minister ha* received the following message from the High Commissioner : LONDON, March 14.

The British "Eye-Witness" gives a glowing account of the victory of Neuve Chapelle. The* battle began on Wednesday morning, and was preceded by a terrific bombardment of massed guns against the enemy. In less than half an hour all the enemy's trenches, filled with dead and dying, wero captured. By noon the enemy were driven out of the village. In "the afternoon there were further big gains to the eastward. Fighting was continued until night. Tho enemy were thoroughly shaken and 750 were captured. During the day remarkable aeroplane feats were performed. One aviator, at a height of only 150 feet, dropped a bomb on the Menin bridge, destroying a pier. Another destroyed the Courtrai Junction station. Both were of vital importance to the Germans.

On Thursday the enemy counterattacked, but were repulsed by the artillery, the British troops paying off old scores and keeping the enemy on the run. This was the greatest ground gained since- the commence-' ment of tho trench warfare.