TO-DAY'S NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3558, 19 September 1916, Page 5

TO-DAY'S NEWS.

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

AMAZING GERMAN ADMISSIONS.

"ALLIES ATTACK SPLENDIDLY CARRIED OUT."

PREDICTED FALL OF PERONNE

AND COMBLES

(Received September 19, 8.50 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 18.

The German censors have permitted Karl yon Weigand to cable to the New York "World" a report of recent fighting on the Somme, in which remarkable admissions of the Allies' success arfe made.

Yon W.eigand, in a despatch dated Berlin, September 16* .states:—"ln a tremendous attack, splendidly carried out by the French and English, the Allies drove back the Germans with what was probably the hardest and j most effective blow of the Somme! offensive.

"Following an indescribably terrible attack, the Allies, on a narrow, front, of 12 miles, carried the German lines from near Thiepval on the north to Rancourt on the south-east. ■ This is the -best team-work the Allies have yet carried out. ! "The Allies' drive was ' directed against German linea which had been harassed for wearied days by an uninterrupted battering. The Germans j made a gallant arid desperate stand, but were unable to withstand the terrific onslaught. The English and, [French divisions were in overwhelming numbers On such a narrow front I consider it probable that the Allies will have further local successes, and that the Germans may fall back at a number of other points. "In view of. the greatly exposed situation of Peronne and Combles, it would not be surprising if they fell into the hands of the Allies." ... • At this point the despatch was abruptly cut'short by the censor.