THE MIDDLE EAST.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16258, 8 July 1918, Page 7

THE MIDDLE EAST.

ARMENIANS OCCUPY EMVAN. (By Cable.—Presa Association. —Copyrjfht.) (Hetiter's Telegrams.) (Received July 7 th. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 5. jL message from Tillid states that £5,000 Armenian, troops have occupied Eriva* t&» Caucasus, east of Bnterßoj.

THE WEST FRONT.

THE SOMME ATTACK

IMPORTANT TACTICAL

VICTORY

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright) ] lAuatralian and N.Z. Cabla AsGOciation.) (Reuter's Telegrams.! (Received Julv 7tli, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Julv o. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "Tho number of prisoners .captured in our operations on July 4th in the Sommo area and in tho subsequent German counter-attacks, exceeds 1500, including 40 officers. One field gun and 100 machine-guns have already been counted.

"A counter-attack on our new positions eastward of Hamel on the night of July 4th, was easily repulsed.

"Wo made a successful raid in the Beaumont-Hamel sector, and repulsed an attempted raid in tho neighbourhood of Strazeel.

"Hostile artillery is active in the neighbourhood of Scherpenberg." (Received July 7th, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "Wo took a few prisoners this morning in patrol encounters in the neighbourhood of Ypres. "Hostile artillery is active between Villers-Brotonneux and the Ancre."

LONDON, July 5. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "This morning, southward of the foommo, a completely successful operation was _ carried out by the Australians, assisted by sorao detachments of Americans, supported by tanks. "Our objectives were taken and held. We .gained possession of tho woods at Vaire and Hamel and the village of Hamel.

"In conjunction with this operation the Australians attacked oastward of Villo sur Ancre and completely succeeded. Our lines were advanced 500 yards on a 1200 yards front. "The prisoners captured in these operations exceed 1000. Many maehinoguns and other material were also secured."

GERMANS ADMIT REVERSE

Admiralty per Wireless Press. (Received July 7th, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, July 5

A German official report states:—

"Southward of the Somme the enemy penetrated the village and wood at Hamel.

"Our counter-attack frustrated an attack eastward of Hamel."

THE-FIGHT AT HAMEL.

M t>i.t J'GNDON, July 5. Mr Philip Gibbs writes:—"2lie surprise attack by the Australians resulted in an advance of one and a-half miles on a four miles front, capturing the village of Hamel and the trench systom beyond, south of the fciommo. The Australian losses were astonishingly light. * vls^ e d. the Australians it was difficult to believe that an attack had taken place. Thero were nono of the usual signs of battle. The casualty cloaring stations were almost empty, and there were no lightly-wounded men® lhe enemy was utterly surprised, so perfectly was the attack carried out. It was completed in an hour when hundreds of prisoners were being sent •au u ? . r Gscor t. Tanks, co-operating /S m^ant ry, were the main cause of the Gorman surprise and overthrow. Gorman officers oonfess that up to 31 o clock in the morning they had not the faintest idea that they were roing to be attacked. Our artillery was very strong; at this sector, and the firo was so planned that it neutralised the enemy's guns directly the infantry advanced. . "When the bombardment opened at eight minutes past 3 o'clock with an intense drum firo concentrated on the counter-battery work, the German artillery reply was so feeble that the Australians were well on their way to their last objectives before the first shells fell on the old German front lines. When the brigades assembled for attack at dead of night they were careful that no sound crossed No Man's Land. The infantry moved at 11 minutes past 3, the drum firo beginning two minutes earlier. The roar of the guns reminded me of Pozieres.

'The srnoko screens sent before the tanks made dense clouds, which lay low on the ground and hid the tanks from the German anti-tank gun. The tanks nosed their way forward steadily, the crews within working the engines, threo or four men were sitting on the top, each fully exposed, with their legs dangling over the sides of the tanks. Thus they rode into a seeming hellfire. The infantry followed in waves, loose, open lines of men extending forward as they came close to the barrage, rolling slowly ahead. The Australians chose-to risk wounds from their own bullets rather than give the German machine-gunners time to get to work.

"The Gorman machine-gunners were only able_ to open fire at a few places. One was in a rear trench, where a tank could not get a position. Here the enemy fought stubbornly, the firing of his machine-guns making a persistent tattoo until rushed elsewhere. The German anti-tankers put three or four tanks out of actior for a time, but most of tho tanks were successful in rounding up_ a large number of Germans, manoeuvring a li over tho attacked sector, with infantry following in their wake. Dawn was just breaking when the Australians made their final charge, shouting to I the enemy to surrender. I "Many aeroplanes participated in tho battle. Swooping low to drop bombs on the German positions, they made Hamel a helL Most of the Germans were wearing gas masks, under the belief that tho smoke screen hiding the tanks was a poison gas cloud. Thero was so little German artillery fire that the Australians were able to wander over the captured ground with the greatest ease." Thp United Press correspondent says the battle at daybreak eastward of Amiens is destined to occupy a special placo in history. "Not only have wo signally defeated tho enemy," ho says, "bat we havo also taken 1500 prisoners, and reached all objectives with exceedingly few losses to 12» attackers. Ab-

eolufcely no artillery Are preceded tho j attaek. but two minutes 4 before V 1 ® troops went over the British gunß began a bombardment of the Gorman front and support lines, when a screen Boon covered the battlo fionu from the Anere to the Luce. Buadomy, in the centre, a large numbor or tanks, •which were secretly brought up» emerged from the smoke. The enemy Was 60 terrified he scarcely many of the Gormans holding up tlicir hands and surrendering. Behind tho tanks came the Australians, ™ OVI P6 wards Hamcl village, Valro \\ood, nna Hamol Wood. In a short timo every objoctive was goinod. Tho village, woods, and tho trrnohes beyond fell Into Allied hands. Three Gorman dinslons lost heavily. Local operations between tho Sommo and tho Ancro kept tho cnorny guessing and enabled us to improvo our situation. Prisoners admit that thoy woro totally surprised. They spent tho nicht in cellars ana dug-outs, dodging British bombs from aoroplanos, whioh circlod nil night over them, dropping scores of 751b bombs on HameL"

PRAISE FOB. THE AUSTRALIANS.

[Australian uid N. 2. Csbk Aaaocbtion*) (Received July 7th, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 6.

Mr Philip Gibbs states: The American General addressed the Americans before the battle of Hamel. He said: "You aro going to get a taste of Ihe real thing. You are going in with some of the best soldiers —the Australians—who always 'deliver the goods.' They are not going to stop till every objective is reached. Wo expect you to do the same, and we shall be very disappointed if you do not fulfil the hopes and the belief we have in you. ' There were thousands of other American troops desperately eager to join, and asked tho Australians if they could not lend them a hand.

RECENT OPERATIONS REVIEWED. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received July 7th, 5.0 p.m.) LONDON, July 5. It is authentically learned that the recent scries of minor operations on the West front have considerable importance, inasmuch as we have gained improved observation points on the ground recaptured in the Somme area, from which the onemy has hitherto been able to direct an enfilading fire. During the past week the Allies took over 5000 prisoners, and between June 27th and July 3rd they accounted for 179 German aeroplanes, while 36 of ours are missing. We now possess a decided numerical air superiority. Tiie Frcnch 'operations on the AisneOiircq sector are interesting. The troops had t(> cross a ravine down which the Germans had a habit of putting a barrage. The French made a surprise attack under General Man gin and crossed the ravine before the enemy could put down a barrage. The Allies thus acquired important tactical positions where their line was hitherto most vulnerable, and obtained valuable information as to the enemy's plans and trench systems. Another feature is the great damage which our air forces are doing to enemy factories, stores, aerodromes, and dumps, greatly hampering his preparations. The Americans at Vaire displayed fighting qualities of the highest order. Their staff work was excellent. The Germans, after three weeks' rest, now have very large fresh reserves available for their next move. In the Italian operations west of the Brenta four Austrian divisions were engaged, and suffered extremely heavy losses. The Italians between the Brenta and the Piave have not yet recovered all the lost ground. (Received July 7th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 5. Mr Percival Phillips states that the capture of Hamel is as complete a victory as the Allies have ever won. The German resistance, he says, was feeble and spasmodic and utterly unlike the organised opposition which was expected. Something like panic seized the ene*ny. Large numbers of German dead were found, victims of the preliminary air raid, which was as destructive as artillery fire. British aviators dropped 300 large bombs, and before the defenders could rally the tanks were upon them. Many Germans ran away. One battalion surrendered with its staff.

FRENCH ACTIVITIES

(Received July 7th, 5.6 p.m.)

LONDON, July 5.

A French communique states: —

"Our detachments and patrols are operating between Montdidier and the Oise, in Champagne, on the right bank of the Meuse, and in Lorraine. Each has secured prisoners."

Another French commuiiiqu6 states

"There is moderate reciprocal artillery fire. Artillery activity is livelier south of the Aisne, particularly in the regions of Cutry and Mont Gobert.

"We carried out a raid west of Bucsaines."

LONDON, July 6

A French communique reports:— "Between the Oise and the Aisne we, at 7.30 o'clock last evening attacked near Autrcches, on a front of two kilometres, and advanced about 800 metres.

"A now attack, launched later in the same region between Autrcches and Moulin sous Touvcnt at the moment when the enemy was preparing a coun-ter-attack, enabled us to gain still further ground. "Our total advanoe extends over a front of five kilometres to a depth of 1200 nietreß at some points. "We took 1066 unbounded prisoners."

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS VISITED

(United Semoe.-j (Received Julv 7th, 6.5 p.m.)

LONDON, July 5

Mr Hughes and Mr Cook are visiting the front. They delivered stirring addresses to the Australians on the varions sectors held by them. They had enthusiastic receptions.