GERMANS DEMORALISED BY BRITISH BLOWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16665, 9 October 1917, Page 5

GERMANS DEMORALISED BY BRITISH BLOWS.

GREAT CONFUSION OVER THE ENTIRE FRONT. TROOPS IN RESERVE OVERWHELMED BY BARRAGE. ENEMY'S PLANS UPSET BY THIRD DEFEAT. \ ' Australian and N.Z. (Received 11.20 D.m.) LONDON, Oct, fc Writing from British headquarters, Mr. Peroival Phillips states: Much information from prisoners and unofficial souroes confirms the demoralisation of the enemy troops. In Thursday's battle General von Arnim must have lost at least three good infantry divisions, including the Fourth Guards and the Forty-fifth Reserve Division, who the best of the German Guards. They consisted of thoroughly trained men, the pick of the recruit - depots, averaging from 25 to 30 years. The Forty-fifth Reserve Division consisted of storm troops and was a division chosen for heavy attacks. The Fourth Guards were still suffering from their losses at Lens, where the Canadians systematically shelled and gassed them, among the ruined collieries. They left Lens on September 26, and were promised a rest in Belgium, But General von Arnim thought otherwise. He needed men, even tired men, 80 within three days the Guards were under fire at Zonnebeke. They were weakened and discontented. Every company of the division, except four, was represented in the prisoners. The Twentieth Division, recently on the Russian front, yielded over 1000 prisoners, besides a large number of dead strewn on the battlefieldThere was extraordinary confusion in the German line owing to the promiscuous throwing in of regiments. Many battalions were cut off from the regimental headquarters. Troops waiting in tho darkness for orders to pass through the stationary infantry found themselves overwhelmed in the British barrages. ' Officers completely lost their heads, and ran about cursing their men. Distress signals for artillery were not answered. Even the German wireless stations were knocked out. 0 The situation east of Polygon Wood was an example of tho confusion prevailing on the entire German front. Here three battalions of storm troops were assembled ready to. attack in three waves, with foot Guards ready to. take over the line, when captured, and a reserve regiment ready to make a second assault' if the first failed. All the detachments were in close formation. Exactly ten minutes before the first German wave was to advance the British were among them. By this time the barrages were sweeping through the reserves behind with terrible effect. Survivors of this defeated mob said the surprise was paralysing, and no soldiers could have rallied. This third defeat must affect the enemy's plans in many ways. The Germans must dig new winter quarters, re-arrange their artillery, and establish fresh aerodromes, and hutments. The disappointment of the German commanders is great, as they believed the British would not attempt large operations after the end of August owing to the difficulty of taking heavy guns over marshes. The German higher command is offering tempting rewards for every British prisoner. The price varies from 25s to 60s for a living man, and 10s for a dead man or identification badge.