AN AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14647, 3 July 1918, Page 3

AN AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS

(Official Correspondent with the A.T.F.) Australian Headquarters, France, June 19.— Early on Monday morning a Saxon division opposite the Australian lines on the Somme, which had been badly stung m a recent night advance, attempted to raid our line near Nailly-Laurette. As far aa could be discovered m the darkness, the enemy appeared m a -party of about 50 strong, though there is a probability that others were hancintr bnck m No Man's Land.

Australian machine-gunners were quite ready for them, and the raid wilted away before a storm of bullets and bombs. None of the Germans reached' our trenches^ Last night our patrols crawling out m the vicinity found 30 enemy dead before the place. Many tributes of French appreciation of the Australians have already been recorded. A few days ago the Prefect, of the Department of the Somme called upon the Australian commander to express to him, on behalf of the French Government, the admiration of the French .people for the Australian Army, not only for its fighting qualities m .the field, where the Australians had valiantly fought the invaders as if they were defending their own country, hufc also for the behavior of the troops towards the civilian population, and for the help given m saving an enormous amount of public and private property. One is unable to observe the life of the Australian divisions m this country without being impressed with the friendly relati'-ns between the Australians and the French. Wherever they have been the Australians have won the universal affer lion of women and children. It is common to hear the French children greeting the soldiers : "Hullo, Digger." Many battalions returning from the line were wel. corned to rest camps by the villagers. The French soldiers and 1 men folk of these families exhibit no less esteem for them as for their comrades m the fightin £ line. The Australians have undoubtedly made a lasting friend of the whole French nation.