"ZONE OF DEATH."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17393, 2 October 1918, Page 5

"ZONE OF DEATH."

48 HOURS' GAS SHELLING.

100 TANKS COME UP BY

NIGHT.

INFANTRY ACROSS THE

SCHELDT.

ONLY ONE MORE LINE TO

CROSS

(Received Oct 1, 10,30 p.m.)

LONDON, Sept 30

Mr Gibbs writes: There had been ceaseless firing for 48 hours before the morning's attack began. The gunners fired gas shells for ten hours, spreading a zone of death over a wide territory, flinging thousands of rounds of gas shells over German batteries and assembly places. Following as few minutes' hurricane bombardment the infantry advanced behind a creeping barrage, A hundred .or more tanks had gone f oeward in the nighttime, hiding until they crawled out at daylight, and with the infantry, made for the Scheldt, which is 60 yards wide where it goes above ground. Elsewhere it is enclosed in a tunnel. The crossing of the canal is recognised as a military feat as great as anything in the history of the war, more difficult even than the crossing of the Canal Dv Nord. The ca,nal goes underground for " five kilometres northward of Bellicourt. This portion was defended by the Hindebnurg Lane, with immense belts of wire, deep and wide trenches, and a network of earthwork. Within an hour after the attack began reports arrived that the South Midlanders had secured a crossing and were well on the other side. The main Hindenburg Line on this sector was broken through, and troops are so much past it .t mnay points that it is only an ironical memory.

The Australians and Americans on the right of the attack stormed the canal where it is partly above and partly below ground around Bellicourt. The line here was terrific in its origina-1 strength, for besides the wide canal there was a great belt of wire and many trenches, but our guns cut the wire this morning. The troops displayed marvellous valour in establishing bridges. Luckily the heavy German barrage fell mostly behind them; and'some of our wounded were hurt in their desperate eagerness to keep close to our own barrage, the Americans being less experienced in this than the Australian veterans. Prisoners state the Masiores-Beaurevoir line is not manned, but observers report the rapid movement of German trains westward showing that the enemy is rushing up reinforcements to hold this position, where pr-jbably a great battle will be fought- Once through that line we are out in open, country, when anything may happen.