NEW ZEALANDERS' ADVANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16945, 3 September 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS' ADVANCE

CAPTURE OF BAPAUME.

OPEN WARFARE BEYOND.

further villages TAKEN. NZ. Correspondent's Message. FRANCE, Aug. 20. The capture of Loupart Wood and the enemy positions in the vicinitv bv the New Zealanders was a most dashing piece of work. It was accomplished by North Island troops. Wellington troops attacked the wood, and Auckland men marched on Grevillers, other Wellington troops being in close support, ready to fill up any gaps that might occur. The troops were on the move by 2 a.m. in pitch darkness, and proceeding towards an assembly point that none of them had ever seen. From there they had to go for ward to an objective that had not been reconnoitred. Hie troops made no error in reaching the assembly point., and at 4.15 a.m., still in the pitch dark, they had taken three parts of Grevillers and were in Loupart Wood. By the forenoon they were on their final objective. tor some time there was trouble from tlio neighbouring village of Biefvillers, and one company of a Wellington battalion with a few Aucklanders were therefore diverted to attack and capture Biefvillers, while another New Zealand unit also co-operated splendidly in the capture of this village, which enabled our troops to continue their advance through the rest of Grevillers. In this brilliant enterprise the New Zealanders captured a large number of prisoners, a battery of 6.9'5, two other guns, and many machine-guns. A remarkable feature of the operation was the celerity with which it was planned and carried out. There was not time to put a single order on paper, and the positions were stormed in darkness without the firing of a single round from the artillery. Both leadership and initiative must have been splendid to enable troops to get there. Drive Through Bapaume. Aug. 09. The New Zealanders have taken Bapaume. Early this morning patrols entered the outskirts, and North Island troops are now right through the town and pushing on. Apparently little resistance was met, the enemy having been so severely handled in the previous fighting that he eventually bad to evacuate the positiou. The Rifle Brigade shared with the North Island troops the honour of getting through Bapaume this morning. The former went through on the north, the latter on the south, and the two 'units met at the brickworks on the eastern side. Both brigades? are now marching forward in great heart on Fremicourt and Bancourt. The day is fine, with a hot sun and drying wind. Pressing beyond Ilapanme our troops went on until they found the enemy holding a trench lino on the high ground north-west of Beugny. They are close to the villages of Beugnatro, Fremicourt, and Bancourt. They are more than a mile beyond Bapaume on its eastern side. To-day on the battlefield one saw something of the war of movement. A gallop across country unfolded exhilarating scenes. Transport was already pouring up into the new territory we had occupied, and various headquarters had moved up to advanced positions.

Howitzers Hurried Forward. Riding to-day well north of Bapaume, we saw our howitzers being rushed along a road towed by mosor lorries. Some enemy aeroplanes came flying low over ua, and immediately there was a fusillade of machine-gun and rifle bullets. German shells were now bursting in Bapaume and along the old parts, but our men were beyond the town. Near the now headquarters was a group of prisoners cap. tured in the advance by the Rifle Brigade. They were Saxons. A company officer said they had been cut off by our machine-gun fire. His corporal and others had been killed, and they had surrendered to the New Zealanders. He himself was a Dresden man, and had learnt English from an English friend with whom he used to play tennis. He thought the German intention was to retire to tho Hindenbnrg line.

Among the booty captured by us this morning were two 15-centimetre guns and five horses.

Renewal ol the Attack. . Aug. 30. At an early hour this morning we were awakened by the continuous thunder of artillery. It was the signal for a renowal of the attack by the New Zealandere. With their almost- irresistible dash and undaunted courage they followed the heavy barrage, heading straight for two more villages—Fremicourt and Bancourt, well beyond Bapaume. There had been rain in the night, and at 5 a.m., when thev advanced, it was cold and raw. It was not long before Fremicourt., though it was well garrisoned, had fallen to the Rifle Brigade, with the excellent bag of 240 prisoners. On the left English troops cooperated in the attack. To tho south was the smaller village of Bancourt. The capture of this was allotted to North Island troops. On the right were other English troops protecting their flank. This attack also succeeded, and both attacking forces at once began to rash to objectives farther ahead. The enemy had, however, established himself "on., the high ground beyond the village, and was prepared to strongly contest the .position. He still has his artillery in strength beyond the crest of tho ridge as so far he has lost few guns in the fighting here.