BRITISH AT CLOSE QUARTERS WITH GERMANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15998, 17 August 1915, Page 7

BRITISH AT CLOSE QUARTERS WITH GERMANS.

GUNS OPEN THE WAY FOR ADVANCE.

ENEMY BURIED fN MINED DUG-OUTS • S&MBS AND BAYONETS COMPLETE THE VICTORY. • By Telegraph —Press Association—Copyright. : 0- (Received August 16, 9.10 p.m.) London, August 15. Eeuter's correspondent at the British headquarters describes the success, achieved by the British at Hooge, east of Ypres, on August 9, as being due to the magnificent co-operation of the artillery and the splendid spirit of the infantry. The British guns were undoubtedly superior to those of the enemy. They blew the German entanglements to the sky, and made frequent breaches in the parapets. The splendid results heartened the men. v- ~ "The infantry attack was arranged between three and four - o'clock in the morning. At the exact moment the men swarmed over tie parapet in a surging stream. Nothing could stop them- The Germans, paralysed by the incessant shell-fire, were unable seriously to resist. The British, with a little bayonet work, quickly captured . the first line of German trenches. The Germans were disinclined to fight, and took to their heels. Many sheltered in dug-outs, which were some 20ft deep. These were promptly finished by bombs dropped bypassing bomb-throwers, each of whom was supported by a bayonet- ' man. A sergeant noted the position of a German trench mortar. He rushed thither, and toppled headlong over the parapet of I a German trench- Pie lost his rifle, and fell flat on his back in the . bottom of the trench. A German sentry was on the point of throwing r *7 a bomb when the sergeant rose up and dealt him a mighty kick in 1; ~ the ribs. A Tommy then arrived, and bayoneted the sentry. Efse- • _ where, a German officer with a revolver in each hand emerged from a dug-out and shot two Tommies. A third pinned the officer with his ■ bayonet. ' "Scores of Germans were later heard knocking at the walls of t eir dug-out. Explosions of heavy shells had covered the entrances ' temporarily burying the occupants. The Germans were dug out and i\- made prisoners. In a large mine crater used by the Germans to L * eter the massing of reserves, 100 Germans surrendered. Four | y { nndred dead were strewn around. The total German losses in the h eDgagemenfc ™re 3000- Three captured officers, who were wearing ft 0U ° SSeS ' were gentleness itself compared with the previous burly ft ÜBsians They resembled clerks or schoolmasters. Boots and limbs ft rr ei7Where pr '^ ectmg from tllft fl°°rs of ruined trenches. It was |fv cult to imagine how the men lived in such conditions. ~ , 'Many Tommies who wore slightly wounded refused to report to 6S e doctor so " DOt to ' miss the finish of the ' scrap.' Unparalleled JV" « xhlb " ed by ' a portj ' of engineers, who sallied out in the I - Win.il and " C ' ted a " entanglement to from, of a captured trench. W°° *" a, '"" 9 '' d by the di3 ' ; " VCry °' reversed bullet, and saw fe'-MeDrf..." P °* sesslol > ° f the Germans. An incendiary bullet killed ;h soldier, setting fire to his tunic- '