PREPARATIONS FOR ATTACK OCCUPY A WHOLE YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16561, 9 June 1917, Page 7

PREPARATIONS FOR ATTACK OCCUPY A WHOLE YEAR.

GUNS, TANKS. AND EVERY KIND OF EXPLOSIVE.

GERMANS OVERWHELMED BY DEVASTATING FIRE. Australian and N.Z. Cable. (Received 10.15 p.m.) LONDON June 7.

Mr. Philip Gibbs writes:—The battle of Messines, which began today at dawn was more audacious than the battles of Vimy and Arras, because of the vast strength of the enemy's positions. The massed gunfire was of greater intensity than any previously. Our troops are now fighting forward through smoke and mist. English, New Zealanders, Irish, Protestants and Catholics, fighting shoulder to shoulder, have made good progress up the slopes of Wytschaete and Messines. Prisoners are already telling how the British swept over and beyond the German positions. The day goes well. The Messines Ridge, for two and a-half years, has been the curse of our men holding the Ypres salient. The Germans here stacked guns and every kind of explosive against us. The battle started only after the most complete preparations known to military science. A year ago miners commenced tunnels, laying a tremendous explosive, "ammonal," which at a touch to-day blew up the hillsides, altering the very geographical face of Flanders. For a year Sir Herbert Plumer has been preparing this attack. He has been ready a week with guns and tanks and every kind of explosive which modern science has designed for killing men in great masses. A terrible bombardment, which commenced a week ago, increased in violence, working up to supreme fury as dawn broke. For five days, the Germans have been pinned in their tunnels. There was no way out of these zones of death. Regiments attempting to come up during last night were shattered by our heavy guns, which laid down belts of Ehell fire that were devastating and impenetrable.