THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14703, 7 September 1918, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

OAPTURE OF HAPLINCOURT. OTAGO MEN BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE FIGHTING. (Special from Official War Correspondent.) September 2. Tlie New Zealanders attacked the enemy again this rooming m front of Haplinoourt. South Island troops were engaged, and the Otagoe bore the brunt of the fighting. One company of Otagoans found themselves up against superior numbers of th© enemy, who had crept forward at night time and evaded most of tlie barrage. They were m force at some of our old huts at a cross-road, and as our men advanced they met with heavy machine-gun fire, and later had to bear the brunt of shrapnel and high explosives. Fortunately, only one company was exposed to this fire, .and naturally did not make much progress. In the afternoon, at one o'clock, the New Zeahjund gunners put down a heavy barrage, the Otagos renewing the attack and going forward with grim determination, and finished the day's work m brilliant style. They got right on toth© enemy, who was clustered m large numbers on a, sunken road, and inflicted sever© casualties. Th© sunken road wag littered with liis dead. Immediately aftenwards the Otagos pushed on, and had the satisfaction of capturing 120 prisoners. These weue a very mixed lot, and included' N several of the new Prussian division who had recently arrived from Flanders and have already suffered very heavy -casualties. An English division on tho right attacked at the same time, and captured the village of Villers au Floss, taking many prisoners. The Canterbury troops were also m this fight, but they had not such heavy fighting. Their casualties were light. In the morning's fighting one lot of the enemy put up their hands m token of surrender, but immediately went back and turned their machine-guns upon the Otagos. They were promptly wiped out. During the past month we have captured twenty-eight guns, including some eight-inch howitzers, 260 machine-guns, some G.S. waggons much ammunition, n.any rifles, and a great deal of equipment, trench mortars, and some minenwerfers. The ground recently won from the enemy was littered with German equipment, and at the railway sidings they ; have left behind large quantities of engineering stores. September 3. Tho troops, who wound up the day brilliantly, added another 120 prisoners to then* tally during the night, and this morning Haplincourt is iru their hands, and the patrols are how pushing forward war Bertincourt, three thousand yards ahead.