GERMANS DRIVEN OUT OF A WOOD NEAR SOUCHEZ.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16039, 4 October 1915, Page 5

GERMANS DRIVEN OUT OF A WOOD NEAR SOUCHEZ.

MACHINE-GUNS CONCEALED IN STEEL-PLATED PITS.

FRENCH BOMB-THROWERS DECIDE THE ISSUE.

London, October 1

Reuter's correspondent reports that, according to French soldiers who describe the charge at Souchez, the Germans bolted like hares into a wood. Simultaneously with the order to advance the French exploded seven mines, completing the destruction of the trenches. "We dashed hot on their heels," said one soldier. " Some of our comrades stayed behind to explore the ravaged trenches and subterranean shelters 20ft deep, throwing in bombs to prevent the occupants attacking us in the rear. Fast as the Germans ran we soon caught up to them and occupied the second line of trenches in the middle of the wood. Some crossed the Souchez brook, some went up the road towards Angres. The enemy brought up strong reserves, and our officers recalled us to the first German trench.

" Our artillery in the evening bombarded the wood, and its aspect changed as if by enchantment. Soon only tree stumps remained, emerging from a jungle of branches. We treated the German shrapnel philosophically because we wore steel helmets. Next afternoon we reattacked the wood, stumbling over fallen branches. The German machine-guns were most troublesome, and were almost invisible in the steel-plated pits. We sheltered in shell holes and bomb-throwers crept in behind the tree stumps, kept up a rain of bombs, and soon drove the Germans out of the wood, which is ours for good."