FIERCE FIGHT FOR TRONES WOOD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2821, 12 July 1916, Page 7

FIERCE FIGHT FOR TRONES WOOD

FIVE DESPERATE ATTACKS ON THE BRITISH ENEMY HURLED BACK WITH HEAVY LOSS The High Commissioner reportsLondon, July 10, 3.30 p.m. "During the past forty-eight hours thero has been particularly- severe fighting around Trones Wood. The wood is of triangular shape, 400 yards northwards and southwards, and at its base, and is strougly defended by trenches and wire entanglements. On Saturday morning, after a heavy bombardment, the British captured tho southern end of tho wood, subsequently extending their position northwards, and drove back determined counter-attacks with heavy losb. "Yesterday aftonloou two more German counter-attacks in mass were crushed by artillory firo. In the evening the enemy bombarded the wood with various armaments. At 8 o'clock two strong attacks were mado from the cast and south-east. Tho flint was completely repulsed; tho second penotrated the southern olid of tho wood but tho enemy was immediately ejected, with heavy losses. A fifth dosperato attempt was also completely crushed ; by lire. The enemy's casualties in these five fruitless attacks wero severe. ■ "To the north-west of Contalmaison we oaptured a small copse and three wore guns, and this morning, several hundred more prisoners. "In Flanders the enemy's artillery has been active, and heavily bombarded our trenches at Hooge for three liours. In this neighbourhood there were three successful raids into the German front line."

SIX MORE DESPERATE ATTACKS * \ • GERMANS RE-ENTER TRONES WOOD. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. July 11, 5.50 p.m.) London, July 10. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"After six desperato ■ attacks, the Germans reentered Trones Wood, after suffering tho heaviest casualties. Fighting continues. "Wa have gained a lodgment in tho Bois de Mametz. The enemy's defences in the Bois de Mametz had hitherto resisted all our efforts. r 'We have atST gained ground east of Ovillers and La Boiselle. "Our aviators delivered several successful attacks on various do-training centres, ammunition depots, and aerodromes." WITH THE FRENCH SOUTH OF THE SOMME FOLLOWING UP THEIR LAST SUCCESS. The High ■Commissioner reports: London, July 10, 3.30 p.m. "South of tho Somme tho French, following up their progress during the night in the region of Barleux, took a 1 ine of German trenches between that village and Maisonette. "Unwonnded prisoners taken yesterday numbered 950. "The night was calm north of the Somme." , London, July 11, 1.30 a.m. A French official message states:— North Of the Soinmo the day was calm < "South of the Somme we made progress during the course of the day between Biaches and Barloux. On the boundaries of Biaehes we captured -a small fort where one of the enemy's detachments still held out, taking prisoner 113, including 10 officers. ' "South of Biaches brilliant attacks by us on Hill 97, which dominates the river, enabled ns to capture this hoight, which was strongly held by the enemy. "We also carried a small wood situated north of La Maisonnette; fractious of the enemy still remain.in a redoubt at the extremity of the wood." , WITHIN THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE OF PERONNE. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Paris, July 10. The French troops are within three-quarters of n mile oi' Peronno. THE FIGHTING AT BIACHES AND BARLEUX . •BIG GERMAN SALIENT IN DANGER, t (Rec. July 11, 0.25 p.m.) Paris, July 11. The capture of Biaehes (reported yesterday) is important. It is practically in the .suburbs of I'eronne, though situated on tlio left bank of the canal, and was strongly fortified by tho Germans, who have now been driven, north -of the Somme. The French have also taken part of Barleux, which is only two miles from the Chaulnes railway line. The Gernin ns south of Barleux .aro hanging on to Villers, but their position is insecure, as tho German salient, which includes Chaulnes, Roye, Lassigny, and Noyon is seriously threatened. Tho French hold the whole of the Snnterro Plateau, the soil of which is a hard limestone, fnvourablo for the movement of big guns. Its capture was tho result of two days' artillery preparation, enabling, ail advance at noon on Sunday. The infantry, crbssing two entrenched ridges, reached the broad plateau, which is 830 ft. above the sea, en d overlooks the whole valley. By three o'clock Biaches had been attacked on three sides', and captured, the survivors of the garrison retiring along tho southern road towards Peronne, just in time to escape encirclement by tho French. A wounded officer states that the assault was so rapid that tho French losses ivere of the lightest, though a German Army Order had described tho position ns impregnable. Our mastery of the air enabled the French artillery to attain remarkable accuracy. Yesterday we hit a bridge fourteen miles distant four times in succession, as the aeroplane observer reported by wireless. Tho communications in the German rear are thus uncertain and dangerous. Many of the prisoners are hunger-striclceai. The enemy resisted longer on the right of Biaches, having free ground for his artillery, but dared not risk his heavy guns on the narrow strip between the firing-line and the liver. Tho fight continues nt Barleux. where the Trench right has captured a line of trenches extending to La. Maisonette Farm, which caps the plateau. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE London, July 10. A German official communique states:—"Wc repeatedly repulsed continuous attacks on both sides of tho Somme, and ojcctcd tho onomy from ground we had temporarily yielded. The French suffered great losses." GERMANS ANXIOUS ABOUT THE BELGIAN COAST. Amsterdam. July 10. The Germans aro most apprehensive of a British landing oh tho Belgian coast. They are strengthening the garrisons there, and rehearsing tho repulsing of attacks. UNEASY COMMENT IN GERMAN PRESS. I (Rec. July 11,' 0.25 p.m.) London, July 11. Tho "Daily Telegraph's" Rotterdam correspondent states that an anxious noto in tho Gorman Press comments on tho operations oil the Western front is becoming daily moro apparent. Tho belief that the Allies' offensive has failed because thoro has been 110 iinuiediato break through has been abandoned. This iraaasiness arises from the that tho Anplo-French wswjos aro en- . gaged in a treat etratogio 1 ■

The "Frankfurter Zeitung," in a sombre article, says:—"A purely tactical I'reucli success cannot: be denied. object is to advance along a lino from Peronne to Curhi, in a. northorlr direction, so rolling up the German wing which is fighting tho Duglish. xho latter are acting much more carefully, but arc unable to avoid tho heaviest losses. The next low daya will tho heaviest fighting against tho Trench, preventing them from carrying out tlieir proposed tactiusi AVo <lo not fihare tho cheap optimism of t many newspapers who describe these events on the Pennine-Albert corner as noli far-rcaching." '-BEST LAID SCHEMES: HOW GERMANY'S PLANS COLLAPSED Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Roc. July 11, 5.50 p.m.) / Berne, July 10. Hcrr Gaedke, I lie German military writer, states that the German stall anticipated a British attack at tho end of Juno or July. Germany had planned to destroy the British initiative by attacking about June 15, but the Russian onslaught had compelled Germany to remain on tho defensive in the West, and divert Tier troops eastward. KAISER REPORTED TO BE IN. COMMAND CRec. Jnly 11, 5.35 p.m.) London, July 10. The "Morning Post's" correspondent with British Headquarters states:— "It is rumoured that the Kaiser and lus staff nro directing operations against the British. Our men believe tho rumour, and consequently tight tho harder. They are delighted tri think that tho Kaiser was an eye-witness of the rout of lift favourite Prussian Guard." FIGHTING IN,CHAMPAGNE AND THE ARGONNE The High Commissioner reports: London, July 10, 3.30 p.m. "In Champagne thero were two coups-de-niain by tho French west of 'failure. "West of Butte da Mesnil two attaoks on'a German trench, over a front of 500 metres, resulted in some prisoners being captured. "In the Argonno our reconnaissances penetrated Toury-de-Paris, and one of the enemy's trenches was destroyed with gronnfles." VERDUN AND THE VOSGES ABORTIVE ATTACKS BY THE ENEMY. The High Commissioner reports:— London, July 10, 3.30 p.m. "On the front nortli of Vordnn tho bombardment hiis continued in the regions of Chattancourt, Fleury, and La J.anfee. A strong enemy patrol was dispersed with grenade Are north-west of Floury. "lit the Voages detachments of the enemy attacked our positions in the region of La Clmpelotto. Three points were sharply taken under firtfi tho enemy was unable to penetrato our lines, and was completely repulsed." London July 11, 1.30 a.m. "On tho Verdun front there was n. heavy reciprocal bombardment in tho regions of Froid de-Terre, Fleury, and the I'umin "Wood."