TANKS’ GALLANT WORK.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11501, 2 April 1918, Page 5

TANKS’ GALLANT WORK.

IN REARGUARD ACTIONS. London, March 31. Since the colossal bombardment of the 21st, our tanks have done gallant work. Some, hidden in woods behind the line at Gravely, were threstened by the advancing waves. It was impossible to get.them away rapidly ,and the pilots blew them up. Tanks were ‘successfully utilised at various points. They drove the enemy twice out of the village of Eoisei and covered the withdrawal of the line. They fought a gallant rearguard action at Servill for two days, covering the withdrawal. The most courageous action by the tanks was at Vaux-Vraucourt, south of Bullecourt, which the enemy had captured. Our aviators reported a heavy concentration of tiie enemy. Tanks advanced, accompanied by two companies of infantry. The enemy at close range opened fire with machine-guns and field guns. As soon as the tanks mime in sight, they made straight for the German trenches and raked them. Our losses were not light, for the tanks wore close targets for field guns firing point blank, but wo indicted heavy casualties. The enemy fled. Some tanks, which had been out of action, lay derelict among the German dead and dying, bat maintained fight for several hourst, the survivors returning at midnight. On the 20th four tanks fought a rearguard action netwoen Yarastere and Les Boeufs without infantry support, holding up German waves and preventing the cutting off of infantry. The tanks slouched among the enemy, raking masses of storm troops in open country and holdingdiordes at hay until the enemy brought up field guns. Then we required all skilled courage to manoeuvre the tanks to avoid direct hits. They however, fought their way hack. In all these fights, the pilots and crews fought with utter disregard for tneir lives. Cavalry had long looked for a chance, in the vicinity of Ham and Noyon. They streamed through Guiseard and did most gallant work, prisonoring 150.