WEST FRONT OPERATIONS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11478, 5 March 1918, Page 5

WEST FRONT OPERATIONS.

ENEMY BUSY WITH RAIDS.

ATTACK M THE PORTUGESE.

AUSTRALIANS REPEL ASSAULT.

Reuter. London, March, 4. Reuter’s correspondent at British Headquarters state that between St. Quentin and Polygon Wood there were six enemy raids on Friday night. Also two enemy attacks. The particular features of the raids were the intensity of the enemy barrages, the promptitude and volume of cur own artillery in response, the almost exclusive use of the rifle for their repulse,and the disinclinaton of the picked German troop to press home their attack. The biggest attack was against the Portuguese on a front of 3000 yards, between the La Bassee road and Nenquissart, in which a whole enemy battery assaulted. After a whirlwind bombardment, fierce Inmd-to-hand fighting occurred, but a dashing Portuguese counter-attack caught the enemy at grips in the trenches. The raid upon the Australians, which was preceded by a terrific bombardment,:.* was brilliantly repulsed. The attackers numbered 200, and the principal point of attack was a little post, the garrison or which made a valiant defence, but the’enemy carried it and passed on to the”comp.;ny’s headquarters, where a counter-att ick was organised by the platoon commander, which scattered the Germands.

During the raid calls were made, in English, by the raiders for help.

One came from the commander, who was later found dead. When the position was restored twentyfive enemy corpses were found hanging on the wire.