THE NEW ZEALANDERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 248, 15 October 1918, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALANDERS

FORCING THE SELLE RIVER

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.* LONDON, Oct. 14. Mr Philip Gibbs . gives a vivid account of the forcing of the river Selle, in which the New Zealanders, by a brilliant exploit, captured Che "river front at Cohere. The Germans held out for two days when they were ordered to hold out to the deaths.

A BRILLIANT FEAT.

CROSSING OF THE SELLE

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Rec. Or:t 15. 10.40 a.m.) LONDON. Oct. 14.

■Mr PhfKp Gibbs , describing the brilliant feat of the New Zealanders in crossing the river Selle, says: In order to cover the retreat and prevent Sir Douglas Haig coming on too fast along the crowded roads the German command ordered the rearguard to hold out to the death on the rive r Selle. Our men for two days had been tryinw to force passages, and after stubborn and heroic efforts, as astonishing as the storminrj of the Scheldt Canal they achieved -their purpose. We have now crossed the river. Tt is a strong defensive position because the banks cut verv sharply down to a stream 20 feet' wide which winds around several villages each having a machine gun fortress. The Germans held the line in strength. We had to attack at dawn with Yorkshiremert. Lancashires, .Scottish, and New Zealand units, assisted by cavalry. There were three tree trunks by the river. Some of our men * got across by creeping out on the logs among floating brushwood. Others waded up to'their necks in water. But al? had to come back owing to the German machine guns. Finally the sappers made bridges under the* heaviest " fire, and during the night we cut away ir?to German trenches.

. The:; New Zealanders fought their way to Biastre, on the river bank, though the enemy was able to ■" see every movement from high ground. The New Zealanders had already been fighting for days *ince the mai've'llous capture of Welsh Ridge and La Vacquerie on October 2nd anid 3rd, and the capture of Lesdam and Esnes on the 6th, where.the. New Zealand Rifles and the Canterbury Battalion fired their Lewis gun from their hips, 'capturing many prisoners and repulsing counterattacks which the enemy made with a tank captured from the British. It was a battle of tanks. A British tank charged the 'German-British tank, outflanked • it, and poured in a 'broadside which blew it to bits. The New Zealnders werflti on to the villages of Beauvois, Fontaine, Viesly, capturing Laistre on the Selle on the 11th. On the 12th they forced the river and forced their way up to the heights of Bellevue, where they are fighting now.

GERMAN REPORT.

(Australian and N.Z. Cabla Association and Renter.)

LONDON, Oct. 13. A" German official message says :—-We withdrew somewhat north-east of Cambrai. but the enemydid not follow. We reached near Avensneslesee, ; and the heights' on the west bank of the Selle, near Sanlzoir Hansay. Between the Oise and the Aisne the enemy reached the wooded districts of gt. Gobiari, ahdi the heights north of Ailette and Amifontaine. J--