NEW ZEALANDERS’ PART.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7914, 4 August 1917, Page 3

NEW ZEALANDERS’ PART.

IN THE BIG PUSH. LAB AS SEVILLE WON, LOST AND WON. HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING. By Special Service. (From the Official War Correspondent). August 2. During the recent operations the New Zealanders attacked and captured the village of Labasseville. The houses had suffered severely in the Messines battle bombardment, but still afforded good observations and considerable shelter to the enemy.

Slightly farther north, outside Wartieton, was a series of hedges and tree clumps, in which the enemy retained a foothold and from which they were able to snipe our observation posts. After the bombardment the New Zealanders advanced against the village, and taking the enemy by surprise lulled or captured several found in dug-outs and shell holes. Once roused the remaining garrison fought stubbornly in the village, but were killed almost to a mail except fourteen prisoners, who were brought back.

Owing to wire and other obstacles the mopping up was ineompleted until nearly daylight, which revealed the position to our troops. Screened by trees and scattered buildings, the enemy quickly developed a counter-attack and recovered most of the ground taken. Owing to the low visibility our “5.0.5.” was not seen (n time, and we lost a few prisoners and some killed and wounded. Our men were surrounded by greatly superior numbers and retired fighting gallantly through the village and so hack to comparative safety through their own lines, but during the fighting from the first to the last they inflicted much heavier casualties on the enemy.

Though the Germans.recaptured the village their success was short-lived, for subsequently, under cover of an-

other barrage, the New Zealanders renewed the attack on a slightly wider front with entirely successful results. This time the enemy were ready in Labasseville, and severe fighting, some of it hand-to-hand, ensued. The Germans, however, suffered casualties even more severe than in the first fighting. Dawn found our men securely established in the village, and the position was quickly linked up with the line to the north.

By this time the enemy battalion in front of us appeared to have had enough of fighting, and an effective barrage helped to make the position secure and stave off a counter-attack. Though “5.0.5.” signals went up more than once no counter-attack succeeded in reaching the village in strength. One party of forty Germans endeavored to work along the river bank, but a trench mortar officer hurriedly collected some half-dozen men near him and attacked and routed the enemy.

Report has it that fourteen Germans were killed and several wounded, while others beat a hasty retreat.