WESTERN FRONT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11667, 12 September 1916, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

CHARGE OF IRISH TROOPS A WONDERFUL AVALANCHE. PITIFUL CONDITION OF PRISONERS London, Sept. 10. Mr Philip Gibbs says:. Tne Irish troops’ charge through Qnillemont was one of the most astonishing feats of the war. It was a wild, irresistible assault like a human avalanche, English riflemen supporting the Irish right. They stormed the German first, second and third lines as if possessed. If there was any fault it was that they progressed too fast. There was no time to safeguard the ground gained, consequently the Germans, climbing from their dugouts, began sniping. In one underground chamber twenty Germans quietly surrendered and saluted the officer, offering an old watch to an Engglish corporal. Most opposition was encountered between tw,o sunken roads. Tbe English enveloping movement faced a fnsilade of rifle fire and bombs from Germans emerging from dugouls, also machine-gun fire from Ginchy and {.Falfemont Farm, but they advanced as though manoeuvring. Wounded men crawled into shell holes, shouting ‘‘Go on, boys ” The Germans ran, and our men followed. A German officer who surrendered said: “If yon run like that, yon will be in Berlin before we are in England.’’ Six hundred prisoners were taken. They were in a pitiful condition—brokenspirited and trembling with fear. One officer was proudly indifferent to his fate, which contrasted with Jthe otheis, who clung round the necks of our officers begging for mercy. Of tbe garrison of 2000, hardly one escaped.