TRIBUTE TO THE AUSTRALIANS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13852, 2 September 1918, Page 5

TRIBUTE TO THE AUSTRALIANS

HOW THE GERMANS REGARD THEM. TAKE FEW PRISONERS. NEW ZEALAND CAPTURES AT BAPAUME; (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn ) Received September 2 8.65 a m e . ■ , LONDON, Sep. i. fcir Douglas Haig reports that the Australians are showing great dash enterprise, and daring. Bv brilliantlv executed night operations they seized the hill and village of Mont St. Qoentin, northward of Peronne, thereby gaining possession of an important tactical feature commanding Peronne and the angle of the Somme river, also capturing Fenillancourt and over 1500 prisoners. Our casualties were, light. The English, on the Australians' left, attacked in the morning with complete success, and captured Marrieres Wood and the high ground to the eastward and northward thereof, taking prisoners in considerable numbers. We successfully repulsed daylong counter-attacks, and drove off with heavy loss strong hostile attacks astride the BapaumeCambrai road. We repulsed the capture of Reincourt les Bapaume, and slightly improved our positions at certain points between Vauex, Beaucdurt and Bullecourt. Received September 2. 8.65 a.m. . LONDON, Sen, 1. Reuter's correspondent at' "British headquarters states that a lately captured note, issued by battalion headquarters, contains the following:—"The Australians are a powerful type of men exceedingly clever, versatile and enterprising. They know how to creep through hich crops and capture our outnosts. They also understand exceedingly well how to carry out large patrol operations. Their characteristic is that they take few prisoners, but bavonct or shoot everybody." The correspondent states that the British 3rd Army, since Aucust 25, has captured 100 guns and 18,000 prisoners. The Ist Army, since August 26. has captured twenty-six guns and 4000 prisoners. The New Zcalanders took inter alia some o.9in howitzers at Bapaume.