NEW ZEALANDERS AT LA BASSE VILLE.

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

NEW ZEALANDERS AT LA BASSE VILLE.

WELLINGTON MEN IN HOT

FIGHTING

(Special Dispatch from the Official War Correspondent, Captain Ross.) LONDON, August 9. Ihe troops that distinguished themselves in the recent fighting at Lx Basse Ville and vicinity were from Wellington and Auckland. They fought with great gallantry. Several officers and n.e.o.'s became casualties very early in the Wellington unit. At one stage four platoons were commanded by corporals. A captain distinguished himself. He led his company with conspicuous gallantry in a successful raid, and also showed great bravery and initiative in repelling a German raid. One unit accomplished the difficult operation of clearing the hedgerows of the enemy and establishing advanced posts. A section of one platoon was stopped by heavy gun-fire, and met with casualties, being forced to withdraw to shellholes; but consequently, aided by ths Wellington men, they rushed the position ,and captured two machine-guns. The lieutenant was wounded, but remained till the post was practically made secure. He then made his way to the dressing-station, but first reported to battalion headquarters. The sergeant then assumed command of the platoon and carried on in spite of an injury from a shell explosion. Another party met a strong rifle fire, and was tiniest wiped out, the lieutenant being wounded. _ A third party was reduced to three, its corporal in command being killed. A private took command of the remains of these parties. He and another private fired rapidly at the attacking Germans, killing several, whereupon the remaining twenty-four Germans surrendered. One machine-gun, one minnenwerfer, bombs, and a truckload of ammunition was captured and the post established in an excellent position. • .

In the operations large numbers of the enemy were killed, and forty-five were taken prisoner. The morale of the prisoners was good. They,were of fine physique, and had little complaint to make about their food. Thefy certainly fought well. Nevertheless, there is evidence that the German Command now know they are beaten. Several of their regiments are at low strength. The men complain of the inaccurate shooting of their guns, and there is an indication of a, shortage of aeroplanes.

STEEL BODY ARMOUR

Hardened steel body armour, weighing twenty-three pounds, is being used in the front line. The fighting on our sector is now again a matter of artillery and patrols. The latter often meet and fire on each other in the moonlight. The other night one of our patrols came upon an enemy machine-gun crew in a shell-hole. They bayonted one and fired at the others as they fled, but owing to the heavy enemy fire were unable to bring the machine-gun back. The enemy has apparently been ordered not to show himself by day, and remains for the most part in the "canonflaged" shellholes. Captured prisoners state that their famous aviator, Richthofen, received two bullet wounds in the head in a combat with a British airman ovar the German lines,' but landed safely in a meadow and was taken to hospital. The following Auckland men have received awards for gallantry in the La Basse Yilie fighting :— Bar to Military Medal: —Private 0. Quinn.

Military Medal:—Corporal Henry Malcolm, Sergeant Victor William Inch, Private Robert Richard Smith.

Other recent awards are :— Military Cross:—Captain W. H. McLean.

Distinguished Conduct Medal:—Sergeant C. N. Deverv and Private Vestey —all of a Welington unit.