WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3364, 4 September 1918, Page 17

WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS

NEW ZEALANDEItS AT THE "DOVECOTE." (Special from the Official War Correspondent.) August 23. This morning at 1.30 the attack launched on August 21 by General Byng, broke out with renewed intensity. It was a- brilliant moonlight night, And planes hummed above while artillery thundered below. > Following a spendid barrage went the infantry from several divisions. Our Rifle Brigade still represented New Zealand, though another battalion relieved one that had already taken a successful part in the advance. We continued to hold our narrow front on the Ancre and 1 the defensive flank on the right to join up with a division that had trouble with a strong point known as Beauregard "Dovecote." It was decided that the "Dovecote" must fall thismorning, and while the English were attacking it our men advanced due east between the 'Dove cote" and the village of Irles. From across the Anore came a lot of machine-gun fire, and our men suffered some casualties, but these were really light. Only two companies were concerned in this fighting. Oprations at night always make it difficult to stop on the exact objective, and our men in their keenness went at least 400 yards further than they need have gone. However, having gone so far, they decided to hold on to the ground gained. A difficult situation arose in consequence. At break of day they found themselves sitting In a valley with the enemy commanding their position from a wedge—very much like Gheluvelt, and as was the case during the fight for 'Polderhoek Chateau last year in Flanders. Then it was ascertained that there was another attack to be made at 11 o'olock in this immediate vicinity, and that their position was 200 yards inside the area on which the barrage was due to come down. It became a case of crawling out under the German machine-gun fire, or remaining to be. shelled by friendly artillery. As soon as the position was known a messenger crept back, and succeeded in getting word to advanced Brigade Headquarters, so that the barrage, which was -now unnecessary for this bit of ground, was stopped in time. Thus all ended well, and the New Zealanders, at small cost, had gained a depth of 700 yards on a frontage of 800 yai'ds. The operation then commenced at 11 o'olock. One company from the same battalion advanced and cleaned out the Germans who were occupying the valley of the xincro, immediately north of Miraumont. Some nests of enemy machine guns were mopped up, and prisoners wero taken, and the operation was quite successful, 'lo-day the heat was tempered by a breeze, but it was no uncommon signt to see New Zealandors stripped bare to the waist and being gradually browned by the sun, as they were on GallipoH. I found the men in iho best of spirits'. The

fine weather is certainly in favour of a quick advance. This morning, when the barrage for the 11 o'clock advance came down, hundreds of Iluns took to their heels and "logged it" for all they were worth. The New Zealanders chased them up as close as they could on the edge of the barrage, and shot at them both with machine-guns and rifles. "We had a great lot of fun up there for a while," said a cheery wounded rifleman whom I met on the battlefield. Some hours later, away beyond on a ridge, our men could see other Germans retreating. At the same time some New Zealanders spotted a party of about 20 of the\ enemy coming towards them as if, to surrender,Some were limping as if wounded, but when they reached a favourable position they began to shoot at our men. Then the New Zealanders dealt it out tp their little party, and in a brief space of time none were left to carry back any news of the battle to Germany "A platoon officer got six, and I got two," said a corporal who was hit later in the engagement after he had been interrupted in his shooting to take Jjaok a message to company headquarters. Most of our men had but a poor opinion; of the fighting calibre of the Germans • mej> in this battle. " The Hun is not stioking it out like he used to," said a wounded New Zealand corporal; ''his spirit is gone. The only good men he seems to have now are his machine-gunners. _ These are left till the last to hold the positions, and I assure yoil they are getting a very rough spin." Re.turning over the crest of Serre Ridge % found between 60 and 70 prisoners whom the New Zealanders had captured halted by* the way in charge of about four riflemeri. Numbers of one of our battalions in reserve had joined them, and all were mixed together in quite a friendly party. The Germans were willingly giving away souvenirs, and there was a hubbub of conversation in English, French, and Gorman. Nearly all the Germans seemed very glad to be done with the war, and not in the least afraid that tho New Zealanders would eat them. One young fellow, who just before the.war had been a student at Oxford, doubted my statement that the war might last three years more. " Germany," he said, " wal finished." And he added with emphasis t; " Thank the good Lord that for me 'tis at an end." All the German prisoners I saw were very kindly treated, and their wounded were tenderly cared for. Even their walking wounded were taken in our ambulance cart whenever there was room. In the afternoon I was with the offioer of our medical corps, who took some of them back in his car. He was wading in a creek yesterday when our men, with machine-gun fire, drove in 240 Germans upon a position held by some English troops. To these" latter the Germans promptly surrendered, and were marohed off as their prisoners. " Hard luok for the New Zealanders," I said to tho New Zealand officer. " Never mind," he said; " it all goes to' win the war, and theso Tommies fought well." As I write at the end of a long day to catch the last despatch-rider the loud and continuous thunder of the British guns beats on the air. They have been busy now for 20 hours, and seem as if they would, continue far into the night or the next day. The tanks are creeping forward towards the battlefront. It has been a busy day for

Ludendorff. To-morrow will he in danger, and ifc is perhaps within the bounds of possibility that the New Zea- , landers may have a hand hi its fall. I