WITH THE AUSTRALIANS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13896, 23 October 1918, Page 5

WITH THE AUSTRALIANS

THE FIGHT AT VILLERS BRETONNEUX. A BRILLIANTLY EXECUTED OPERATION. (Australian, N.Z. and Router.) Received October 22, 8.35 p.m. LONDON, October 21. Sir Douglas Haig's despatch dealing with the successful counter-attack at \ illers Bretonneux on April 23, in which the 13th and loth Brigades of the 4th and sth Australian Divisions participated, says:—lt met with remarkable snot-ess. A night operation of this character, undertaken at such short notice, was an enterprise of great daring. The instant decision to seize the opportunity offered, and the rapid and thorough working out of the general plan and details of the attack on the part of the 3rd Corps commander and tho divisional and subordinate commanders are worthy of consideration, while the unusual nature of the operation demanded tho highest quality on the part of the; troops employed, and was carried out in a most spirited manner by all ranks. The 13th Brigade particularly showed great skill and re. solution in making its way through ln-lts which were running diagonally to the line of their advance across very difficult country, which they had no opportunity of reconnoitring beforehand. AVe took nearly 1000 prisoners in this well conceived and briliantly executed operation.