THE MIGHTY SMASH.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11195, 13 April 1917, Page 5

THE MIGHTY SMASH.

CAPTURE OF MONCHY

GHASTLY WORK OF ARTILLERY.

A CAVALRY CHARGE AT LAST.

London, April 12.

An eye-witness gives a thrilling description of the capture of Monchy, the key to the position between the rivers Scarpa and Sensee, standing on the edge of a plateau 100 feet above the surrounding country. Correspondents saw ghastly evidence of the British bombardment, Mac-hine-gun posts of reinforced concrete two feet thick were destroyed by a single shell and trenches smashed inlo shapeless ditches. The Germans lore up rails to make barricades and used fanu carts, ploughs and brick heaps as cover, but all precautions were useless. Targets a yard wide were hri from four miles. Dead Germans were everywhere. To facilitate the defence of Monchy the Germans planted a scries of machine gun batteries around outhouses and in Wood chateau to the north. Sunken roads radiated in all directions, which were full of snipers and machinegunners. The capture of Fampoux, however, covered the flank of the attackers, while *an enveloping movement developed. Heavy snowstorms enabled a large force to advance between the Scarpe and tire Douai road, without the enemy realising the significance of the movement. Meanwhile, artillery crossed the Scarpe near Roeuk and advanced on Monchy. By dark the British bombing parties were on the fringe of tl’.e village. The troops were so tired after thirty-six hours’ continuous fighting that they quickly dug in and slept throughout the night in shallow trenches despite the snowstorm, but ready to re-attack. At dawn they charged the trail cheering, and Monchy was captured in 30 minutes, the remnants of the garrison collapsing when at close quarters. The infantry for the first time had the satisfaction of seeing the cavalry charge the broken foes, driving them terror-stricken over the fields. The steady reduction of German strongholds hdiind the breached line proceeded so rapidly that Lancers and Dragoons were able to drive ahead en masse.

Tanks performed great service in clearing machine gun pockets and driving the Germans into the open, Parties of Lewis gunners, pushing on, hastened the surreuder of the survivors, who had been foodless and sleepless since Monday, and were wet and chilled to the bone.