BRITISH SUCCESS WON IN STRUGGLE AMONG SLAG HEAPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16879, 18 June 1918, Page 5

BRITISH SUCCESS WON IN STRUGGLE AMONG SLAG HEAPS

DARING AND SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE AT LA BASSEE.

ATTACK DEVELOPS INTO ALL-NIGHT FIGHTING.

Australian and N.Z.

(Received 9.30 p.m.i

LONDON. June 17.

Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: The Suffolk's and Gordons at La Bassee Canal made a daring attack on a front of two miles, taking 200 prisoners and 25 machine-guns. The sector is chiefly occupied by mining villages and slag heaps, with shell-broken pitheads. The German defence was based on linked shell craters and machine-gun posts. The defenders were notorious as belonging to the Eighteenth Reserve Division, who were responsible for the campaign of fnghtfulness at Louvain and Termonde in 1914. Our attack, carried out in the darkness, utterly surprised the Germans. Many were taken prisoner before they could get their arms. Others fought bravely in the shellcraters, and were bayoneted at their posts. Educated prisoners admit that the gains from the offensives have been much less than was expected. They are very nervous about the Americans, as they believed only 75.000 had reached France. They now realise that, the submarine campaign has failed.

'Received 11.S p.m.)

LONDON. June 17.

Mr. 11. Perry Robinson states: The successful British attack at Bethune on Friday led to a hard all-night struggle, with bombs and bayonets. The fight was especially fierce at La Tannerie, where the Germans were posted in strong positions. The enemy casualties were nearly 1000. The whole position was occupied by dawn.