ONE OF WAR'S GREATEST 1 RECORDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14593, 1 May 1918, Page 8

ONE OF WAR'S GREATEST 1 RECORDS.

LONDON, April 12. Tho Australians' gallant stand at tho battle of. Dernancourt is widely acclaimed. They fought great masses to a standstill. Tlie Manchester Guardian says: "They,., havo established another of th' 3 war's greatest records." Australians from the . front hold the general conviction that Amiens is: saved.

Certain divisions there hold a record as glorious as any forces m history. Arriving*" after long and trying journeys, sleepless and unrested, they w>ere thrown m alongside the British wherever the positions were most critical, plugging the worst gaps, stopping the Germans'; onrush, not conceding an inch 'except at a point where they were literally blown out by artillery. The officers there seemed overwhelmed with horror at their inability to hold up the enemy's masses, supported by a terrible weight of machine-guns and artillery, whilst the Tommies ,were dulled by lack of sleep, and sore. and weary m every bone arid muscle. ' " ' v NEW DRAFTS FIGHT WELL. The Britishers' joyous welcome of the Australians was pathetic. An artillery major rushed up and emotionally embraced the Australian commander, saying. . "Thank God you 'vo .come" . The ijnajor was reassured and ' heroically swung back his guns, promising the Australians every shell available. Indefinite' news:as.tb the lino compelled the, Australians m advance 'until the scouts contacted with the enemy. Then the.likeliest positions available were taken up. Commanders say that the latest drafts from Australia acquitted themselves equally with tho veterans. A captain from Sydney 4<aid ; "With. another throe Australian divisions we -would break thi> back of their salient." Officers generally aiv, anxious about .reinforcements. , Ail agree that the "Dernancdurt barrage was the hoaviast experienced^, including n lot of low-bursting British shrapnel. Noncombatants, including cooks and quartermasters, rushed into the line at Dernancourt and Bretonneux, lighting heroicTHEIR LAST 7STAND. Two companies of a New South -Wales battalion carried out; a dashing engagement an. hour after relieving other %Australians. •"About 300 Gnarmaris emerged from a wood, charging through the undergrowth. The Australians ' poured m bullets, and then rushed them with the ■ bayonets.- The Germans. soon fled, leaving 70 dead and 100 prisoners. The Australians lost 30 killed. .A Sydney ; Officer states that a New South Wales sergeant and six men bravely, established an outpost/ The sergeant was wounded ji'ii the chest." H<v imported that the 'Huns were gatheriiig. Before any-' jtliiug could be 'done the Huns charged m great numbers. After half an hour's intense, fighting, they overpowered tho post, the men dying. round thoir machinq »""• '.; . '"-' ,'.''. . An Australiiin flying , squadron evacuated' an aerodrome' ,the night before a shell destroyed « viaryihing-, wounding four 111611 left as a qua/d, ; Tho Australians speak encouragingly I'egarding the security oT -tho southern line, and of the excellauco of the American officers.