HARASSING THE RELIEF TROOPS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14608, 18 May 1918, Page 3

HARASSING THE RELIEF TROOPS.

LONDON, May 7. Percival Phillips writes:—The harassing fire upon the German trenches and communications during the past lew days has had the desired effect, for whatever the -enemy infantry tried to assemble, the British guns inflicted terrible punishment, and movement was rendered impossible. This annihilating bombardment of th,e German forward area continues day and night, pounding the relief troops coming up to tako over the broken trenches from the remnants of exhausted divisions. These relief men thus arrivo at their destination greatly weakened and demoralised. Prisoners admit that they often lost their way, and drifted hopelessly over a wide area, being unable to locate their units. Every day's delay adds to the enemy's loss and difficulties. We have no illusions about the German plans. Dsspite their enormous casualties they must try and take the chain of hills behind Kenimel. I am convinced that these plans would have already materialised but for the British gunners. The rain added to the difficulties of the offensive, and it wrought havoc m the roads and fields. In waterlogged Flanders it takes a long period of steady sunshine to stiffen tho crust of the earth so that it will bear infantry and guns. The Fourth German Army is now inhabiting broad patches of impassable ground, where streams have overflowed their shallow banks and become lagoons. The Germans' present front line around Ypres and Scnerpenbers* is a living bog. The British raids keep the enemy m a state of tension. A mail-van bringing a German unopened post to troops m the front line fell into our hands In a curious manner. A shell killed the driver, and the horses wandered on m the darkness till they reached the British lines. The letters and postcards were couched m deeply pessimistic tones There, was a universal grumble at the stoppage of leave; and generally thoy expressed the writers' intense longing to end the war.