'ANOTHER WAR CORRESPONDENT'S ACCOUNT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17272, 26 March 1918, Page 5

'ANOTHER WAR CORRESPONDENT'S ACCOUNT

ENEMY'S GREAT NUMERICAL SUPERIORITY

ORDERLY RETIREMENT OE BRITISH

MORALE IN NO WAY SHAKEN

SIGNAL INSTANCES OE BRAVERY.

Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. m • LONDON, March 24. (-Received March 25, at 8.40 p.m.) Mr Pcrcival Phillips writes: The enemy between La Fere and St. Quentin .u ° n ®, assault division opposed to each British battalion. Throughout Thursday .the battle was unceasing on the downs beside the Oise. The Germans in lofty observation towers on the crest of the hill of St. Ckibain could follow every movement rhoir men having occupied all the high ground, the Qermans were able to search the valleys beyond, which are still in our possession. The open country south of St. Quentin contained a number of strong redoubts equipped with machine guns, food and water. All held cut until the afternoon, and some until the evening, but one after another they were taken. The storm Buffs and Londoners, who are holding the old Vaudand keeps near La Fere and Venhuil, kept up a steady fire long alter the Germans were a great distance behind them. The Germans poured men through the patches of woodland dotting the roll ins country ThiSy night ° Q ue ntin Canal, and we withdrew behind the caml during The enemy renewed the battle on Friday with fresh troops. We fousht a f e Tj re u rearguard action throughout Friday. By Saturday morning the Germans bndgalieads on the fit. Quentin Canal, and had thrown large masses across. We fell back behind the line ot railway which runs parallel to the canal with crossed °readi 1 y!°" D ln Icar " ,rhe 01111111 dr y "ear Ham, and the-enemy rpi y 1 ? Prisoners said they suffered greatly owing to our machine-gun fire, attacking divisions lost 40 per cent, of their strength. Meanwhile for two days there was the fiercest fighting between Arras and Ripaome for the high ground between the Rivers Cojeul and Sensee and a series of villages around Beaumetz. Our men, outnumbered by eight to one, clunff to the battered trenches with British traditional tenacity and dSgged rcsikain the mar^ lcs - one report received road: "Twelve machine guns are still sticking on the ridge, although the infantry on both sides had been forced back. >"i S n l to th€ advancing waves long after the infantry ™?u ? P nn,ers heroism rendered invaluable service." T^ W r G^ r P ° SSl h % Germ l ans used ordinary roads, which were fairly whole au I J tter dj^e g arc l ° f the British artillery. The Germans made no twTw f ?i C 1 coul , d being impressed by the celerity with which troops followed troops, with rapid blows at our fluctuating line. They came with trench mortars, while field guns pressed up behind into villages just evaluated M™' V m , ountain flie Balkans were sent forward slung on horses. ' th™ ® re we f onght throughout Friday night among cellars, was a cockpit +f ■ ffUln ? ry fi S h t'ng- &ome British who were cut off refused to surrender and their oomrades counter-attacked continually, and bayoneted the Germans releas'mg the defenders with comparatively few casualties. Pur line hero was a sharp ™iSer a: timT th™" * ° n Satnrda y The troops had The spirit of our men is nowise shaken by the necessity to give ground Everywhere there is the greatest activity, but the retirement is orderiy. Stores' squipment hospitals, and ammunition were safeiy taken back, Transport columns rolled back in perfect order; the staffs carried on their operations as methodically as ever, sometimes grouped at a table in an orchard.