THE ANZAC ADVANCE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 230, 28 September 1917, Page 5

THE ANZAC ADVANCE.

A MONSTROUS LINE OF

BARRAGE

PAUjUR-K '.>'■' (J-.I9R.MAN PILL-

BOX BS

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received Kept. 2fc, 10.50 a.m.) TX)NIX)N, Hc.pt. 27. INFr Phiitp f;i!,h« reports: '"Pfio Aus-tr-iJian.s a,t tv/o o'clock on Tuesday

llfU"iNi.f)oil r-C'ii inei. to Kelp t.liv- troops nn their Ti^ht, who were- passing !>. terrible ordeal owing to Vho continu:il jm\-Km:v of tho enemy's storm troop*. This was a. serious anxiety on the c-\t> of a new battle, but it'faik'-d to fr-usti-ato Wednesday's attack- At <$.\nn the Australians had ylready ?iiias.;ed beyond Glencorfie: Wood for tho eoiai-enipiated at■tifok. •Fn-r£he-r north vithor soldiers were ready to go ov<sr tho bags-. It ■f,«s a-lmo&, dark -who®, they went for■wvard, through ii wti, thick -mist. "Our artillery .put up the. same 'monstrous line of barrage fire. The •troops 'followed it at a. slow pace, giving time to avoid slieil-craters-. Through the mist our men saw tho 'Germans and falling. Many did not oven stay in the block-houses. -Dead Gerniims wore -a-lso .found hi the--sholl-ca-ators vis we advanced. Thus >Bootleer and -Zoimebeke were taken. -The garr-rsons dn some ipfll-boxes *'©» killed l>y concussion-; others sur-.jondereil^di.-ectly wo arrived. TJlae Australian advance awoss the -racecourse avnd northward across the spur to beltnv Zonneboke ■'Chateasu was steady and successful. Theix> was a regular TlraiiJ of ;blodk-houses here, :but again the black magic -of tho pillbox failed. Most of the defenders wore glad to surrender. "Tho enemy's -gun-fire was heavy over part of the ground. A nest otf ■maclime-gunsi rtlong tho road :gava trouble, but the losses were not :hea.vy. British aircraft brought the first news fhat tho Anzaes had ca-p-v tured tho racecourse. They later reported that they 'had reached their furfchest goal, '-where prisoners were -surrendering •freoly." , < Ufr 'Gibbs Bays that Wednesday will be counted as one of the biggest day's fighting in this war. Decision is of. vital iimportv-hee. "both to tho enemy ; and to ourselves. Thus far it has gone an our favor. The battalions on the Axtktralians' right had the hardest time. They 'were 'milder' aai incessant firo and attnek from dawn on Tuesday, but other British troops on their right, -.who were also soverely tried, swept-across to tho ridge towards: Gheluvelt. It -was fully expected thai,;! any attempt to advance beyond the. ground'gained in the "battle, of the 20th woiild meet with fhe fiercest! opposition. The capture of Polygon' AVood seriously 'lessoned the value of. rPassche.h'daele' 'Ridgo, which forms j the enemy's great defensive barrier. The enemy showed signs of desperate anxiety to check us on the Polygon; Wood line, and tho ground southward) to (• hel uvel t spur. They m ade a great effort by massed artillery to smash, the organisation behind our lines, and by a series of thnr.rts to break our'front. * \

They "laum-hed their first attack on Tuesday morning, -against 'British troops 'immediately to the right of the Australians at Polygon Wood. Owing t-o lasses "the British wore obliged to fall back a little way in order to reorganise for a counteav-ussa.ult. Several British units did'-horoic: things. Mcajvwhile the "Atistralifi.ns were fighting on the high ground on this side -of the racecourse. The enemy failed to pierce the lme, though a. second thrust was attempted at :rlid-day.