OFFENSIVE WELL BEGUN.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14129, 4 July 1916, Page 5

OFFENSIVE WELL BEGUN.

A WELL KEPT SECRET,

NO RESISTANCE IN THE ADVANCED TRENCHES.

GERMANS DAZED BY THE

BOMBARDMENT

(United Service.)

(Received July 3, 6 p.n..)

London, Juy 2

Mr Philip Grabs writes that for a fortnight plans were discussed secretly in the mess rooms, and the Tommies, watching the arrival of scores of guns, smiled grimly. Everybody was aware that the bombardment was preparatory to a great assault, but the secret was

well kept,

The offensive has begun satisfactorily. It is not yet a victory, but only the beginning of one. It is advancing not easily, but doggedly, and capturing strongholds. German dead are lying thickly in the track of our regi-

ments

The attack was preceded by an outburst of trench mortars, and clouds of smoke were liberated, hiding the whole line and screening the infantry. Only the reserves were visible. A minute after 7.30 came the rushing sound of riiles and machine guns. The German, artillery was barraging our lines. There was little difficulty in the earliest attacks. The bombardment had flattened the parapets aitd smashed the entanglements, and the British swept forward, cheering, and encountered no resistance. The surviving

Germans were hiding in dug-outs, many of which were filled with dead. Some crept cut dazed and deafened, and held up their hands. Their heads

ivere bowed