THE BRITISH ADVANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12407, 27 August 1918, Page 5

THE BRITISH ADVANCE.

WITH THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

EN ROUTE TO BAPAUME.

THE RUINS OF POZIERES.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received August 27, 10 a.m.) LONDON, August 26

Mr Percival Phillips reports that as soon as the British had cleared Miraumont, the New Zealanders, with the assistance of tunics, attacked Loupart Wood on route to Bapaume. They found little opposition within, but the trenches beyond were filled with Bavarians. Tiro New Zealanders passed over those within two hours. They did not wait to gather prisoners, but pushed aside and attacked Grcvillors, an old acquaintance, which gave them little trouble, and by tho middle of tho afternoon began lighting for Bapaume’s inner defences. There were good trenches around the suburbs and well-wired slopes. Meanwhile other troops climbed the slopes before Pozieres with quickened pulse, in order to gaze on tho promised laud behind. They found Pozieres no longer the same. The old ruins are gone, and there are new ruins now of British hutments and tumbled cemeteries. The German artillery beyond Bapaume on Sunday was energetically trying to counteract the enemy’s infantry’s instability, but the barrage nowhere delayed our advance. ■ Airmen report seeing patrols inside Bapaume, but these were probablv reconnaissances.