PICKED GERMAN TROOPS FAIL DISASTROUSLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16796, 12 March 1918, Page 5

PICKED GERMAN TROOPS FAIL DISASTROUSLY.

ATTACKERS BADLY SHAKEN BY BRITISH BARRAGE.

ASSEMBLY PREVENTED BY THE HAIL OF SHELLS. Australian and N.Z. (Received 8 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 10. Mr. P'ercival Phillips, writing from British headquarters, states that the attacks by picked troops on Friday were a disastrous failure. They resulted in a heavy German casualty list, and in the demoralisation of their storm troops. Our men do not fear these elaborate drives. Their spirit of confidence was never higher. The purpose of the attacks at Houthulst forest ( and Polderhoek spur was to remove local salients and give better observation to the Germans. The drive was meant to be a surprise, but the storm troops were badly shaken by the British artillery before their barrage moved. About 250 men, on a front of 800 yds, occupied six of our posts at Houthulst forest. They forced back the British occupants 100 yds. Flame-throwing machines assisted the Germans, but our machine-guns prevented reinforcements from coming up until the Yorkshire Light Infantry and the Royal Fusiliers chased the Germans into the swamp. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: The attacks on Friday were frustrated owing to our barrage making the assembly of the Germans impossible. The German officers at PoWerhoek believed that their plans had been revealed. They paraded their men and said the attack was postponed owing to deserters carrying the news of it to the British.