ANOTHER BIG THRUST AT THE ENEMY'S LINE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2820, 11 July 1916, Page 5

ANOTHER BIG THRUST AT THE ENEMY'S LINE

FRENCH SCORE A BRILLIANT SUCCESS BRITISH ATTACK ON ORVILLERS The High' Commissioner reports:— ' ~r . ' ■ , London, July 9, 0.40 a.m. The Morning Post correspondent sends a 'glowing report of the British ispriWe-corps in action, and the value of tlie war booty captured by the British ,ii reoent operations. , "He also reports heavy German losses. The Prussian Guards were demoralised." , • ■ ... July 9, 3.35 p.m. The British report states: "Between the Autre and the Sonime last night fighting was considerably less violent than during the' last , j;W days; t* . "We have iaade further, progress near Ovillers and in another sector, capturing a group of defended buildings. •• "Near Givenchy we successfully spaiig three Jnines. '. 7 ' .1 . . "Further north, after, a heavy bombardment along.-.a "portion of the sector held by the New Zealanders, a strong hostile local attack succeeded .in entering our trenches at one point. After half au hour's fighting the enemy'was ejected by the SEew Zealanders, leaving many dead in the trenches," SUNDAY'S FIGHTING AT OVILLERS." (By Telegraph—Press Associ tion—^cpyrisbi). Australian-New Zealand Cable Association: i.; ' London, July 10, 12.35 p.m. "Tho enemy's artillery was more active on Sunday in the neighbourhood of Ovillers, which incessaiit fighting has converted into a mass of ruined trenches, unrecognisable debris, and shell holes full of mud; Wc: have again made eteady progress, ifi tho.faoe of stubborn opposition. The enemy, in attempting to re- . novo the past week's losses twice violently counter-attacked our new positions Trones Wood. As was the case yesterday, both the attacks completely failed, through the effective fire of our guns." TERRIBLE FIGHT FOR CONTALMAISON AWFUL PRICE PAID BY THE GERMANS, ' - ffieuter's Telegram.) ' i (Rec. July 10, G. 5 p.m.) ' Paris, July 0. A Saioi) division retook Contalmaison. The British are holding the cemetery and tho confinos of the village. The enemy paid an awful price for his success. There were only thirty survivors from the,second battalion of his Second Regiment of Guards, while the third battalion of the second and the tenth battalion pf the Ninth Regiment lost 50 per cent., the Guards leaving three thousand dead and several thousand wounded, TACTICS OF THE ADVANCE ("Tho Times.") (Rec. July 10, 8.5 p.m.) London, Julv 9. A correspondent thus describes the French operations: "While the Germans iattored away at Vordun, tho French Staff busily accumulated guns and men Vn the Somnie_ front, recreating General Foch's armies with the finest stock of troops, including the Moroccans, the famous Colonial Corps, and the new heavy artillery. Twenty-seven Gorman battalions were opposed to them the start, and subsequently these were reinforced to thirty-nine. The German Staff had distributed a. circular to tho troops before the commencement of tjio offensive, declaring that the imminent fall of Verdun had prevented a, morthern offensive. This element of surprise greatly helped the French during fcitio first five days. . '

"Tho enemy's defenco lines consisted, Grstly, of n triple line, of trenches linked) up with the heavily fortified villages of Curlu, Friso, and Dompierre; secondly two miles behind, the lines were based on X'euillores, Herbecourt, Asscvillees, and Estrees; thirdly, calue the lines of Flaucourt and Belloye-en-Santerre. Tito new French tactics wero first a prolongod and heavy bombardment; then action by the Seventy-five's, whose shrapnel blasted the lateral rear trench approaches,- while covering the reconnaissance raiders, who wero ascertaining the extant of the damage. If.the results were satisfactory they signalled back, sum- , willing up the main attack by the infantry. These tactics governed the whole of ;the Anglo-French strategy. , "The Anglo-French troops, at the junction of their 1 ifie, pushed forward together. The French right was held till later. When the famous Colonial Corj-s heard of tho British capturo of Mamotz, they were givon tho word, bounded forward, and captured tho first line immediately. The. Germans trusted to theftr supposed impregnable network of trenches south of the Somme, which had boeii strengthened, to tho utmost during the last month. 'I'heso were pounded to enabling tho French infantry to capturo the lines with lightning rapidity" and a minimum of losses. "iThe French artillery was never greater. By July 5 the whole of the second linojof defences gouth of the Somme had been captured. While the oaring pa-

irols were rocouuoitriug the third line, n "brief halt ivas nece-ssixry to bring up the Anglo-French line north of the river. The infantry mennwhil© was Tepelliug: counter-attacks. Brilliant joint operations -at Hardecourt and the vicinity evened np the position, the capture of Hardecourt facilitating lite French advance south of tho Somme." •

ANOTHER ANALYSIS. Australian-New Zealand. Cable Association. (Kec. July 10, 10.5 p.m.) *mm ~ , , . London, July 10. correspondent, describing tho French attack on the Somme, " H 5' S; ~ All the positions were attacked and carried with the minimum of loss. .8 f reach Y era 5 om P letcl y masters of the air. In the first stage of the offensive they destroyed every German sausnge balloon, and only nine of the enemy's aeroplanes were seen during, tho finst two days. Troop movements and artillery depositions were thus effected in secrecy. •(. ,y?° P rov jouß months the Germans, disturbed by the evident activ--7 ,°. f V' 10 Allies on the Sommc, gave urgent instructious for a big programmo of digging, and multiplied their dug-outs and shelters, but the elaborate precautions were unavailing against tho French gnns. As an indication of the Brightness of the French losses may be itated the fact that the casualties of tlie I'renoh Colonial Corps at the taking of Dompierre was only six killed and sixteen wounded in the most tried company. The losses in some of the ooni--111 Jourtce » men. In a whole division there were only Becquincourt, Bussu, and Fay also fell without trouble into the French hands. There was some delay in dislo/iging the defenders from Estrees, but the whole of the operation south of the Somme 'Jiave- proved definitely that the Orernuin steel barrier can be broken. In the joint Anglo-French operations against Hardecourt and the neighbouring.woods the French won/ the whole of the Positionsi assigned to thflm in thirty five minutes, though their trenches were filled with three ieet of water, and the torrential rain had made the artillerv support extremely difficult." x • , . v '' WITH THE FRENCH ON THE SOMME r ,„ . London, July. 9, 0.40 a.m. batttrday ni£ht (states <x trench official coraimmimie) we captured the villages of Hatxiecourfe and Namelon.' "In conjunction with the British aimy we took Troncs Wood and a farm to the south-east. "We repulsed two counter-attacks "nml took 3<!o prisoners." ■„ n ... ,u • , .Tilly 9, 3.35 J).in. .On both sides of tho Somme the night was calm. The total number « pvi. soners captured yesterday during the attack on Hardecourt was 633." r- ; „. . , n London, .Tuly 10, 12.35 p.m. A French official report says: "South of the Somme we attacked oast of Flaucourt on a front of about 2| miles, from the river'to the north of Belloy-en-banterre. In one all-line attack we carried tho enemy's positions to a depth of from one to two kilometres, carried the village of Biacbes, and established our positions on a line from Biach'es to tho outskirts of BarleuK." ACTiyiTY ON THE fiELGIAN FRONT ENEMY'S BATTERIES SILENCED NEAR DII'MUDE. The jHigh Commissioner reports: i • „ a; . , . ' . ' London, July JO, 12.35 p.m. • A Belgian official communique says: "There has been lively artillery action in several places in the neighbourhood of Dixmude. The German batteries were silenced. ■ \ , ( —— . ' : GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ~ Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. A' Berlin official communique state: "The heroism and tenacity of our troons at the bomino prepared for tie enemy a day full of delusions.'Numerous and con-tinuously-repeated attacks were repulsed with sanguinary losses. The pnomions number of fallen Englishmen, at Ovillers, Confalroai/on, and bLSST le Grand, and Frenchmen at Diachesand Soyecourt, gavo an 'indication of' the -masses of enemy employed, and the devastating effects of our fire 4n enemy oommunique mentions the sacrifice of men in.strong and fruitless assaults on Froide Terra Hill, on the. Men se. We oaptnred 210 men during the repulse of repeated attacks. V . 1 (Bee. July 10, 7.15 p.m.) ' . / »r. . , . . . . Amsterdam, July 9. A German oflicul communique states: "The Anelo-French attacks continue. jNorthward of the Somme we repulsed the enemy with sanguinary losses ill front of the Ovillers-Mametz Wood, and also on both sides of Hardecourt ' "Tho enemy vainly stormed Trones Wood six times, but penetrated Hardecourt village. "The French have increased their artillery fire south of the Sommc to the greatest violence. A local advance failed. > ' "On the remainder of our- front violent- artillerv battles, aas attacks hv fh*. enemy, and patrol fighting are the order." : • " ■ • 1 • GERMAN PUBLIC UNEASY. (Kec. July'lo, 11.30 p.m.) - London. July 10' The Daily Telegraph's" Rotterdam correspondent says that there is a great changs in tho outlook o£ the German people. Instead of comparative confidence, there has been the deepest anxiety during the past few days. The newspapers warn the public to expect a furious and prolonged conflict. Thp Goveminent and the higher military circlts in Berlin also have serious forebodings. The communiques still say that the Allies have gained no serious advantage, but alongside these are posted the Allies' communiques, giving the lists n e places, prisoners, and booty, which have been captured.

■: GERHAN CASUALTIES FOE TONE. ' ' London, July D. The Press Bureau reports'.'The Germans' state that their casualties in June totalled 88,051, and that the total to date is 3,012,637, apart from naval lists and losses among troops in the colonies.''.' i _ t , „ FRENCH TRIBUTES TO BRITISH GALLANTRY The French newspapers declare that the British yesterday fought' with unsurpassed, gallantry and tenacity. Their object was to straighten the front, and -bring it into line with the French. The fighting was the fiercest during the present offensive. The centre of the combat is now at Ovillers, which the British are steadily encircling, in spite of Germany's huge sacrifices for keeping it. : Tho Germans action in sending the Prussian Guard east of Contalmaison proves'" that they scented danger. The Kaiser's picked troops returned again and araiii to tho attack, and left 5000 dead on the battlefield. - , T)l6 "Petit JP®?! 8 } 6 ?",. 88 ? 8 ' tl,e struggle-for the Leipzig Bedoubt was especially severe. The British left the trenches with magnificent soirit, and charged wonderfully. Spectators unanimously.' praise the intrepidity of the final overwhelming rush which gained possession of a great portion of the fortress two hours after bringing oil the attack. Then the victorious troops attacked Ovillers, which I. is a veritable fortress, and with splendid dash seized tho first streets of the village. I ■ , THE FIGHTING AT VERDUN GERMAN SURPRISE ATTACKS FAIL The High Commissioner reports:— ' London,, July 9, 3.35 p.m. "North of Verdun tho enemy violently bombarded for the second time Chattaneourt, Fleury, and Daiuloup. "West of the Forest of Apremont the Germans attempted two surprise attacks on our position, bat one of the enemy's detachment, after succeeding jin penetrating one trench, was immediately thrown out by our Grenadiers." . OLD FRIENDS AMONGST THE CAPTURED GUNS. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. ' Paris, July 11. The guns ciiptural during the fighting at tho Somme include Russian cannon taken by the enemy on the Eastern front in 1915, and French guns from Maubeuge.