THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15750, 17 November 1916, Page 7

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

FURTHER GAINS. PRISONERS TOTAL :i(»7S. TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS. (Bv Cable.—Press AsoCci.iiion.—Copyright.) (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Router's Telegrams.) (Received November 16th. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, November ]G. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "Wc further advanced our front Dorthward of the Ancre. "The prisoners taken total 0678. •'Our troops showed conspicuous skill, dash, and fortitude. The success was "i'.ot ivon without a hard struggle owing to the enemy's strong resistance, and the condition of the ground. "Our losses, considering our gaius, are not- high. '•One division advanced a mile, taking prisoner 1000 men at the expense of 4-10 casualties. e have established ourselves in the positions 'won on Tuesday eastward of the Rutte-de-Warlencourt. "Our artillery dispersed the enemy, who were massing at one point for a counter-attack. •'Our aeroplanes successfully attacked ae:odrome~. railway statione. and rolling-stock." AN EARLIER. REPORT. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON. November 15 (12.15 p.m.). A British official report states: — "During the night we ma*3e secure the ground won by us. "More prisoner! were taken, the' number of whom will be reported I later." | ' i

WITH THE FRENCH

HEAVY ENEMY "ATTACKS. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, November 10 <2.40 a.m.). A French official report says:— "On the Somme front the battle, has raged all day violently. The enemy made a powerful effort both north and south of tho river. "North ©t the Somme they gained a footing in our advanced elements at the north corner of the western boundary of the St. Pierre Vaast Woods. ' '•Everywhore else our fire crushed the enemy efforts. I "'South of th«? river the Germans renewed their attacks on the front Ablain. court-Bois do Chaulnes, but the Germans wore driven back to their trenches with sanguinary losses except eastwards of the village Prossoir, where they nrogressed.'' AN EARLIER MESSAGE. (Australian antl X.Z. Ca'ole Association.) (Router's Telegrams.) PARIS, Novemlicr lo A French communique states:— "J\e progressed to a northern spur of St. Pierre Vaast Wood, after an intense bombardment. "The Germans strongly counterattacked tho positions captured by u s on the 7th inst., from the sugar refinery, Ablaincourt to Chaulnes Wood. Despite the obstinacy of the assault and large use of liquid fire and tear shells, the enemy was repulsed with heavy loss, though some fractions managed to reach a group of houses oast of Pressoir. "The bombardment, which we are effectively chocking, continues throughout- the region."' GERMAN ADMISSIONS. LONDON. November 1-3. A German communique states: — "Yesterday was n great.- battle day on the Ancre. equalling that of Mondav. "The English attacked in heavy masses and captured Beaumont-Hamel. "Elsewhere they failed." The communione shows that the Brandenburgor Guards Division wasamong the troops opposing tho British. THE REASON FOR CANDOUR. (Australian ami N.Z. Cab'o Association.) (■Received November IGt-h, 10.00 p.m.) PARIS. November 16. AT. Marcel Ilutin. in the' ".Echo do Paris," states that there is no doubt that Germany's unreserved admission of her defeat and heavy losses on the Ancre has been made to justify her plans for a general mobilisation.

" ONE OF THE BLOODIEST.' (Received November Kith, 10.").") p.m.) PARIS, November 16. Tho "Liberte" states that the battle for Beaumont-Hamel will go down in /hiistory as one of Hie bloodiest of the. war. The Germans regarded the village as even stronger than Thiepval or Com hies. When the British liad carried live lines of trenches tliey encoi.n- ---' ' in:;"' iiie-guns behind the village walls. There was also ihtenso artillery (ire. A hand-to-hand struggle lasted for ten hours. Tho GcrtUiins must have lost at ]ea~t 8000 xr.cn in Beaumont-Hamel alone. BATTLE OF BEAUMONT. A BRILLIANT AFFAIR. (Australian and X.2. Cable Association.) PAH IS, November !■").• The "Petit Parisicn" states that Beaumont-Hamel and Beaucourt constituted formidable Gorman positions for many months. The number of prisoners taken was GOOD, and the total of the enemy's losses is estimated at 15,000. The British penetrated Beaumont on Monday morning, and a terrific struggle ensued. Gradually tho enemy retired until the British occupation was complete. The configuration of the ground favoured the enemy, who regained a foothold in the village and opened a withering (ire. Furious hand-to-hand lighting lorcod the British to yield ground, but they soon returned to ithe charge, swept through the village, and took prisoner every German who was not killed. The British further engaged in brisk fighting on the Beaumont road, but tho enemy line sooi cracked up, the British gaining the road linking up Beaumont and Beaucourt. The British entered Beaucourt after 3G hours' violent struggle. The advance here amounts lo a mile and a quarter in ;lcpth. The British (ire flominates Grandcourt and Miraumont, which aft the outposts of Bapaume.

Ai CHEAP VICTORY. LONDON, November 15. The "Daily Mail"' states that the .British losses on the Ancre were small in comparison with the magnitude of the victory. The oversea troops did not participate. Enplish rount.v regiments lariir>k\shan'd in. the action, and ail behaved magnificently. RAID ON ZEEBRUGGE. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. (Australian and X.Z. Cabl«> Association.) .lleutor'e Tclcgrama.; LONDON, November 10. The Admiralty reports that squadrons of naval aeroplanes and seaplanes heavily bombarded the hnrl>oui'» and submarine shelters at and Ostend this morning, securin;; directhits on the Atelier de la Marine and in proximity to the power-station. A largo tire was started, which was probably a petro] store. The machines returned safely.