THE BRITISH ADVANCE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15193, 13 April 1917, Page 5

THE BRITISH ADVANCE

CAPTURE OF MONCHY. GHASTLY EVIDENCE OF BRITISH GUNFIRE. - CAVALRY CHASE TERRORSTRICKEN ENEMY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Services.) LONDON. April 12. An eye-witness gives a thrilling description of the capture' of Monchy, the key tp the position between the rivers Scarpe and Scnsee, standing on the edge of a plateau 100 feet above the surrounding country. Correspondents saw ghastly evidence of the British bombardment. Machine-gun posts of reinforced concrete two feet thick were destroyed by a single shell and trenches smashed into shapeless ditches- ; The Germans tore up rails to make barricades and used farm carts, ploughs and brick heaps as cover, but all precautions were useless. Targets a yard wide were hit from fotir miles. Dead Germans were everywhere. To facilitate the defence of Monchy the Germans planted a series of machine-gun batteries around outhouses and in Wood chateau to the north. Sunken roads radiated in all directions, which were full of snipers and machine-gunners. The capture of Fampoux, however, covered the flank of the attackers, while an enveloping movement developed. Heavy snowstorms enabled a large force to advance between the Scarpe and the Douai road without the enemy realising the significance of the movement. Meanwhile, artillery crossed the Scarpe, near Roeux, and'advaneed on Monchy. By dark the British bombing parties were on the fringe of the village. The troops were so tired after thirty-six hours' continuous fighting that they quickly dug in and slept throughout the night in shallow trenches despite, the snowstorm, but ready to re-attack. At dawn they charged the hill cheering, and Monchy was captured in 20 minutes, the remnants of. the garrison collapsing when at close quarters. The infantry for the first time had the satisfaction of seeing the cavalry charge the broken foes, driving them terror-stricken over the holds. The steadv reduction of German strongholds behind the breached line proceeded so rapidly that Lancers and Dragoons were able to drive ahead en masse.

Tanks performed great service in clearing pockets and driving the Germans into the open. Parties of Lewis gunners, pushing on, hastened the surrender of the survivors, who had been foodloss and sleepless since Monday, and were wet and chilled to the bone.