NEW ZEALANDERS. IN THE FLERS BATTLE. Wounded New calenders are arriving from the Somme front, whither they were transferred from the Armentlercs Bcctor a month ago. All stories conilnn their splendid courage on the morning of Sep tember 15 in the face of the greatest trial they had yet experienced. Tho father of a young family, who was gravely wounded, said: "When our hoys went over it was u magnificent sight. 1 he first wave consisted of Otago meu nnd Aucklundcrs. They stepped out fearless ly, despite the hurricane bombardment and the incessant whizzing of macbine-gun bullets. An onlooker might have thought by Uicir carelessness of danger that they were only sham-Ilcbttiig. Those whoso sons and brothers were killed hero can well be proud. It was a glorious death." Heavily londed, nniihlc to run, and curry ing shovels nnd equipment, unlike raid ers who go out to return, It was a moving day for these men, and things did move. They found n new place to sleep that night, although there were many gaps as the result of those first, two hours lu the open. They wnikea in oxicuacu oruer over No-Mnn's-Land, dodging the shell holes. German dead were lying everywhere as the result of the enemy's earlier fruitless attacks. THE TERRIBLE "TANKS." 'KiiKllsta regiments were co-opcrutlng with our right, and several 'lanks' were allotted lo our front. We were vustly impressed by these new engines, uud were dellchtcd to notice the Gormuns- ruins when they realised their deadly powers. When the Orst sallied out 14 German bouili- ers rushed out, thinking It was an ordi nary armoured car, and hoping to stop it before it reached the trench. They threw scores of bombs, which exploded harmlessly, and the 'tauk's' machine gun wined out the whole party. The Ger mans quickly learned to respect the monsters, which, when they develop grcator sliced, will be even a moro terrible menace to the defenders of trenches." "We felt we were right into It this lime," said another. Although we had lost several men, notably a number of Maoris, during the previous three weeks by gns attacks and bombardments, our first' proper action was on the Somme front. When we learned the magnitude of the operations, and onr Important part, u thrill went through ull of us. Everybody was cljecrful, although they knew of a ccrtnliity that many would not survive. Our iMjinbardment was beyond description. The Germans declare wo do not know what shell-tire Is until we have been in their trenches. The German bombardment was Hovero enough, und caught many of our chaps before the advance ASSAULT ON TRENCHES. "The assault on the trenches was quick, rough work, with but few moments for rest, and no time to watch a comrade's fnte. A slnglo thought was in every mind 'get ahead.' The result was that the New Zenlandcrs entered Flora before the ColdstreamSw Irish, Canadians, Scottish, nnd other English units. We were nil mixed up in the finish. The Otago men and Aucklnndcrs took the first line, waited till the New Zealand ltlilo Brigade came up, and then pushed on, taking the second line in overwhelming dash. Theu all the New Zealand forces combined iu a final push. Tbe 'Dlnkums,' as the Ititles are culled, proved themselves among the best. . Some of our meu got beyond the village, und suffered from the niucbluc guns." A pioneer says: "It was laughable to watch the Germans surrendering. They came Into our trenches, ruunlug, rolling, limping, uud crawling. A Ilawkes Buy muu with n broken arm, helping to drag a Duncdln comrade more seriously wound' ed. became indignant on seeing u huge German carried on a stretcher, aud de termined that his comrade should be. re llevod from bis pa Infill crawl, lie saw two Germans scared to death, . running from shell-hole to. shell-hole, shouting knnierud.' Tbe Ilawkes Bay man shouted 'stop!' They did not comprehend, so he picked up his rlnc, nnd they quickly under stood. They approached and dropped on llielr knees. burly German carried the Duiiedlnlte a mile nnd a half to the rear. The Pioneer battalion suffered while digging communication trenches under a bar rage intended to prevent supports coming up." Before the battle General nirdwood again appeared, unescorted, In almost every trench, renewing his acquaintance wltli Galllpoll veterans. The men speak iu tin. highest terms of the New Zcnlandcr, General Kussell. They expressed surprise at seeing a cinema op erator in the front trenches on Friday morning, coolly filming tne advance. The men say: "It will do nur people good to see the magnificent steadiness of that great attack." A Kaltangntn noy. badly lilt in the Jaw, speaking behind his batmages, said, "Ac cording to General llulg's laiiwt, our chaps arc at III there Homing the line. You bet your life they will stick It us long us Is needed. i The wounded are concentrated at Bro-kenburst and Walton, and as soon as they are convalescent will lie sent to Horn- church and Codford. Some, owing to pressure, were sent to Isolated hospitals, but were quickly discovered nnd trans-fcjred to New Zealand hospitals, all of which are working smoothly. There are no complaints, and the men especially appreclato the New Zculaud mutton and ratter.