THROUGH THE LINE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14607, 17 May 1918, Page 3

THROUGH THE LINE.

STRIKING AUSTRALIAN ACHIEVE-

MENT.

(Commonwealth Official : Gbwespondemt/) \fcBST FRONT, May 3. To-day was the anniversary of the second battle of Bullecourt. * ".

Australians were-engaged m a heavy minor fight before VilHer's-Bretonneuxi which resulted -m such gallant achievements that they will add to the already splendid tradition of . ihe- grand battalion, a portion of which made the attacking force. This small assault was made) early this morning m conjunction with the French, side by side with whom our men have fought lately m many struggles which will live for ever m the history of both nations. • •

Half a mile wuth-east of the town is a monument, beyond;- which is a small chateau m a garden or small wood. A West Australian commandeV -was m charge of operations, and portion of his own West and South Australian battalion made the attack,' which, was exceedingly difficult to .launch m the complete darkness. The" troops— both Australian and I<Yencli— were met at the outset by a; perfect hur,rjcja;tie. of machinegun fire. A .German, officer, who ■ . was 'captured, states Wat 'over 150 machineguns and 1200 men were holding a small Bector which we attacked. Terrific fire swept across the French and Australian flanks, but, despite this, 'the SoMh and West Australians swept' beyond" the monument, beyond the 1 wood, and beyond the chateau. They ' are now geMing War to the German headquarters behind theline, and the first thing the enemy battalion staff m a cellar kifew was that 'an Australian was standing on the steps throwing 'down a. heavy bomb. One staff officer jumped! Behind a brick buttress ; the bomb burst, and several officers and *$ men out of 35 that- comprised' the headquarters' staff were taken prisoner. Meanwhile, the troops ahead had pushed through over ;the • second and tjnrd trenches m/ this /bristling strong!point to a German trench on the farther edge of the wood. Heavy fighting was ■going on on; both flanks and behind. Bodies of Germans were seen moving up m a direction to cut tfeem : ..off: The troops were ordered to- retire through ( the wood, whilst firing on the advancing Germans) One body of Germans : -was. dispersed, and the Australians sent back ia number of* prisoners. Part of the attacking H-roops -were forced back), while bthei-s were still holding one part of the position captured. ,

•The Germans at the present mornent 1 arc masaing against these. Our guns 'have opened heavily upon a German counter-attack, but, even if . unable to 'retain the position m the German Jink,! this feat, of the South Australian battalion m 'penetrating clean Yth'rough the centre of the. German position. and bringing back staff officers and othe'y .prisonei's jbhrough' the midst ol terrific ,'figliting is jan achieyemeht of extraordiriacy . galHantry. 'One "German officer, whom . they captured had d'lready been captured, at yimiy, but had been retaken by,^the 'German counter-attack^ He.s aid; '^"ou Australians 1 have been d«ceivirig.;.uß jvery 'cleverly. We know you hay.eV,' many more divisions here than you ' pretend.. sTou can't' malte' me; believe there' are only five." - ; Australians . made this advance Warde !the French .'early, -this ■ morning, " i !Meteren. Australians,, were riot involved ! in the. heavy fightmg|b|,,,Aj)ril.:29 r ; That Igreafc' attack carafT-. -put;; 'a^ain^t-; .'^heFrench and! Buijbish iiirtlieiv north, 1 There 'seems little ' doubt that it •• ( ,was -■ the heaviest repulse the Germans have met : since the offensive started. After v heavy day's fighting in -which, some 13 German divisions were engaged, the British line had not given a foot, and the French had been driven only fronv one position of value, which was regained by a counter-attack. Visiting, the north to-day one found everywhere the men's spirits very cheerful, with the results of that battle. The * Australians there had not been involved m heavy fighting since the first week of jtheir arrival m the north, but they were constantly bombarding and sniping the Germans. The weather at the front ip now splendid, but even when living m the cold and. rain during the "recent fighting the spirits of the Australians have been splendid. ■ One Australian , division's sniperß during a short period m the ;li£ie 61101' v 130 Germans during %Uefc ordinary occupation m the trenches. It' is claimed that this -number only included those who were seen to fall by at least three observers. •