THE BRITISH TIDE.

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

THE BRITISH TIDE.

A GALLANT SNGSDENT. Australian aadyjif.Z. Cable Association. . (Received August 27, 9.30 a.m-) '' ' RpiNDUX, August 26. " ylv Percival ’■ Phillips writes ;—-It must not be forgotten that our wellwon triumphs often mean hard fighting, with severe losses at one or two points, but the losses on the whole wore light. Sometimes there was grim, close-quartet work with the bayonet in deep craters, by moonlight, when handfulls of the enemy found themselves trapped, for example, at Rihuconrt, Sftpignies and near Bapauine. These included some of the fittest and most skilled Gormans, but they only fought in desperation. As the -.British tide cowlcr not be stayed, the German infantry .hourly became more confused and more helpless. The enemy’s defences wore cleared and broken, and ho tried-,repeatedly to reorganise a cuif hcrent lino of resistance, but was as often shattered into a fragmentary rearguard? The chaos behind Bapaumo could scarcely he greater. Perhaps the commanders are partly blameworthy, hut the men lost, heart. Our prisoners nro utterly discouraged. Movement everywhere on the Peronuo road threatened delay, when it crossed the wilderness of the Sommo battlefield', but. this passed and good roads and fairly good ground were regained. A gallant incident is recorded at Aiiraumonb. Tito British encircled the garrison, ami the enemy tried hard to relieve it. ’they sent up a strong force, which occupied a ravine, and a. small British force, pushing ahead of the town, found themselves at nightfall on the edgo of the ravine, where they halted._ When dawn broke on Friday tho British force found the ravine full of Germans and themselves encircled. But they hung on all day. Other British troops on Friday night waded across the Hooded river Ancre and did

a forced march In the darkness. Aeroplanes at, dawn on Saturday boro the message; “Hold on! Help coming.” Tiio enemy in the ravine did not dare to attack, and had summoned reinforcements. lint tho British reinforcements won the race, cleared the ravino and turned to assist in the assault on which was captured. Tho German reinforcements arrived, and one battalion was captured cn bloc.