THE SOMME BATTLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21289, 16 September 1932, Page 15

THE SOMME BATTLE

Sir, —The reference in Thursday's issue to the Somme battle, though giving the New Zealand Division credit for heroic fighting, might give the impression that the division did little more on that occasion but hold its own. Prior to the New Zealanders going into the line, the advance of the British Army from Fricourt to Delville Wood had been, in the main, uphill about four miles. On September 15 /the Second Auckland and Second Otago battalions captured the German front line. The New Zealand Rifle Brigade then passed through them and drove the enemy off the last crest and high ground and downhill to Flers, a distance of a mile and aquarter. Subsequently the other brigades drove another 2000 yards to the north and west. The Germans' habitual ally, the weather, saved them again; as the rain and mud made progress more than difficult. It was in the Jatter stage that the Bavarians were particularly noted. Some of their captured letters referred to the Somme rather lugubriously as der grab (the grave). Their general, in an army order, complained that while the British held any point gained with ttye greatest tenacity, got their supplies up, their wounded away and took immediate advantage of all available situations, his own troops lacked initiative and vigour. The activity of the New Zealand artillery may have assisted to bring • about this state of affairs, as they were very aggressive and fired nearly half ;i million rounds. Sir Douglas Haig, in his official communication, wrote: "The New Zealand Division has fought with the greatest gallantry in the Somme battle for 23 consecutive days, carrying out with complete success every task set. The division has won universal confidence and admiration. No praise can be too high for such troops." General llawlinson, commanding the Fourth Army, in which the New Zealand Division was incorporated for the battle, wrote: "The endurance and fine fighting spirit of the division have been beyond praise, >and their successes in the Flers neighbourhood will rank high among the best achievements of the British Army." Dink.