TANK STORIES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17062, 15 August 1917, Page 5

TANK STORIES.

LONDON, August 10. Mv Pirr.ie Robinson, correspondent of the Times at British headquarters, states that tanks were used in the | Flanders battle only for obstinate trenches and strong redoubts which resisted infantry attacks. Wherever there was a chance the tanks took it, despite bad giound and gunfire. Some landships fought for 17 hours, and one was going for 2i hours before the cre»v got home for breakfast. The ground in places was too soft for such elephantine beasts. At one point two were stuck in the miro in the front line. The Germans attacked in force, hoping to capture them, but our infantry helped to defeat the attacks. In due course the monsters heaved themselves out of the ] mud and departed unscathed. An-1 other, at St. Julien, took 60 prisoners unaided. Another captured a fortified farm and eight officers, who surrendered at the mere threat of a tank attack. The Parade.—A strong point on tho' west side of St. Julien surrendered to h tank, which then, with brother' machines, paraded the streets, routing the lurking Germans. The tank had :i lively time of hide-and-seek with the enemy at Pommeru Castle and adjoining stronghoHs. The German machineguns were objectionable, so the tanks went- for them. The garrison bolted to the redoubt, and the tank lumbered after them under a hail of machine-gun and rifle bullets. Agility is not the tank's great feature, and when it proceeded to flatten the redoubt the Ger.mans slipped back to the oastle. This might have gone on indefinitely, but •the infantry arrived and cleared the position. At other places, with peace|f ul names, such as Plum Farm and Apple Villa, the tanks were useful. One stuck in the mud, and the officers and 1 men emerged under a heavy fire and got it going again. Engine in a Ditch.— The strenth of a tank is somtimes >\ drawback.. One butted in the darkness into a railway engine, pushing it into a ditch. Then it obediently pulled it back. Another, pulling a heavy motor lorry from a ditch, gave a mighty heave and ■walked off wi'.h half a lorry dangling behind it. The tanks are' always ludicrous, but they have become a serious branch of the army. None facegreater peril than the crews of these ! steel boxes. All behaved with the 'greatest gallantry. The Germans hate the tanks, and frequently flee before /them.