AN ENEMY TRICK DETECTED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 19

AN ENEMY TRICK DETECTED.

LONDON, May 9. A soldier on furlough says: " The Australasians had their first real action in France on Friday. The enemy raided the trenches, after bombarding, bui were immediately driven out." " Friday afternoon was calm on the Australasian front. In the evening several batteries terrifically bombarded a 60=yards front. It was more intense than anything experienced on Gallipoli, and the ground is more rocky. Various calibres of high<explosive shells were employed, and then shrap« nel. The Australasians were ordered to withdraw to the support trenches. Then 100 Germans rushed the trench, but only 30 reached it, the rest being mown down by flanking machine guns. An English-speaking officer, disguised in an Anzac uniform, attempted to deter the Australasians from obeying an order to return, calling : ' This way, boys; the Germans are coming.' No one was deceived into the belief that he was the leader of the Australasians' supports. Several Germans were bayoneted, and then the true supports arrived, making short work of the enemy. " Next day the Australasians had their revenge. The Germans, bringing up" supports or a relieving force, were caught by a concentrated fire in a communication trench on rising ground behind their front, and suffered heavily. Observers saw them carrying