DETAILS OF THE FIGHT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11611, 10 August 1918, Page 8

DETAILS OF THE FIGHT.

A RAPID ADVANCE. EASIER THAN IN 1916 AND 1918 Received Angst 10, 12 noon. London, Aug. 9. Mr Pereira! Phillips writes - Thanks to the almost cesseless Allied artilleryiug, the enemy or the most part was unable to develop any formidable system of defence such as we had to overcome on the Somme in 1916, and in Flanders m 1918 The consciousness of this weakness is probably responsible for the recent withdrawals. The preliminary bombardment consisted of a three minutes whirlwind fire on the front position 0 , then Held guns, and trench mortars began to lengthen out into a creeping banago, whilst the heavier guns continued to pound away spots likely to prove troublesome. Hundreds of tanks advanced with the infantry waves, many crossing the Avre with gratifying* ease. A large number of low-flying a . oro " planes paiticipated when the light broadened sufficiently, shedding a hail of bombs and machinegun fire. It was so hazy when the advance oegan that gun flashes were often invisible fifty yards distant. It was just the weather for a surprise. The advance was uniformily rapid everywhere except at Morlancourt, where the enemy's position was well fortified. The fighting there was continuous throughout the morning. Below the Somme the men literally vanished into the fog of war, and it is difficult to piece together anything like a connected narrative, because-the lighting rolls awav over a wide sweep of country, and it becomes impossible to follow, but prisoners are coming in in shoals, the trim condition of many of them indicat ing that they bad been overrun and were surrendering witnout fight.