OPEN WARFARE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14589, 26 April 1918, Page 7

OPEN WARFARE.

AUSTRALIANS' SUPERIORITY

(Australian \ Official .Correspondent.) - WEST; FRONT, Ap^'il 10. The last few days- have been marked by several seyere skirmishes m the woods south of the Somme, where the enemy is constantly feeling^out with patrols, followed by small., local attacks. Possibly the Germans were "testing various parts df this part of the line before selecting the locality of a further general attack. ' ■'■■:.-'-

Profninent among these skirmishes was a fight by two New South Wales companies which, when attacking m a clear wood, met a German attack coming through the wood on ; the^otjier -.. side. Having fought till they were driven out of the wood, the Australians inst reached the outer, edge tt-l-jen they encountered a German battalion coming on to an attack which, had been planned to begin half an hour iatfer th&n ours. A severe fight* ensued, against superior num. bers, m some places 'hand-to-hand. The enemy suffered heavy losses, and eventually left /the field' to the. Australians. Observers watching, "enemy bearers collecting bodies •estimated that the German casualties were easily 700. Besides this, 66 prisoners and two m%hine--gun^. were brought Jot AAA .'J'"! j A] x - A; ■•*'■ * During* a preliminary fight iri th 6 wood enemy machine-guns,, heavily * manned, held up i the,, lef fa Australian attack. *£wo Australian Officers collected seven men, and till ninef bodily rushed the posßion. With the bayonet they killed 'many and *. so overawed the reiftainder by their brilliant dash that ihey surrendered,, the, prisoners numbering no fewer ■, than three officers affd 39 , men,, ,'i This fight vras nbt & solitary instance of the; outstanding superiority .of the | Australians qyir, ffte.ehentyjn open war-' fare. '