ANZAC TROOPS LABOUR THROUGH DIFFICULTIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16671, 16 October 1917, Page 5

ANZAC TROOPS LABOUR THROUGH DIFFICULTIES.

J UNEQUALLED MASSING OF ENEMY MACHffIMUNS. if ' • •' . -, . • SNIPERS SCATTERED WIDELY OVER ZONE OF ATTACK. ' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyt!__t. Australian and N.Z. , . v \ (Received 9.50 p.m.) 1,. LONDON, Oct. 15 Mr. Philip Gibbs, describing Friday's battle, says that; the Anzac • troops on the right flank made good. They,: reached the edge of a hummock called Crest Farm, and killed the garrison, but the German 1 machine-gunners and riflemen holding another knoll beyond Crest Farm subjected the Anzacs to a deadly, short-range fire. The Anzacs would have held their ground here none the less if they had been supported on the left, 1 but other Anzacs, who were having a bad time in ' •■'.■ the swamps ;there were unable to make much headway owing to a-.". deadly fire from higher ground. ; Rain fell. the whole time, =. making the , ground even worse than before.' The mist,thickened, preventing the |; aeroplanes from directing the guns. Consequently it was decided.not | ; ' to continue the second Btage of the. attack", l - and to withdraw the Anzacs ;-., . on the right centre. The Germans on Friday afternoon opened an '$>?[ intense barrage lasting all night. The German defences were pro- :';> tected by blockhouses. All the machine-guns from the supporting ;-;'•- lines were sent to this front. The enemy had never massed so many . Ws: . machine-guns on his front. 5: Many were posted in trees.' There were %'' , lever so many riflemen:, scattered among the shell craters. ■< The ."?" . machine-gun fire and rifle fire never ceased lor an instant during the fff. attack. ' : - c Our men, floundering in the bogs, were unable to keep up W: with the Barrage. . The German snipers and gunners shot with a cool f^ s .aim while our men struggled : forward.M -' ;' '