STEADY ADVANCE OF BRITISH TROOPS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2825, 17 July 1916, Page 5

STEADY ADVANCE OF BRITISH TROOPS

ON A FROMT OF FOUR MILES PRESS DISPATCHES EtiEPORT THE CAPTURE OP VILLAGES ' i ~ ■ ' ' .* (By Telegraph—PressjAssociation—Copyright). Anstralian-Ncw Zeal&ind Oablo Association. . , , New York, July 14. It is reported the British have captUred the village of Bazentin le Petit (nearly two miles beyond Contalmaison).! „. London, July It. j Sir Douglas Haig reports that the British advanced at davn and broke in 1 the enemy positions on a four-mile itcxrat. \ Press dispat<Sies report that Longnev kl and Bazentin le Grand have been captured, and tho Trones Wood cleared.' . ' ' SECOND GERMAN LINE CAR RIED WITH SMALL LOSSES BRITISH IN HIGH SPIRIT,B;OVER THEIR SUCCESS. London, July M. An important afternoon dispatch from iwar correspondents at Headquarters states that later reports tend to confirm th.f first accounts of the success of tho British. The attack carried the second Ger man line with small losses. Tho prisoners surrendered freely, and include a regi (nental commander and his staff, three artillery officers, and 150 infantry officers and men who have reached a single camp. By 9 o'clock this morning wo stormed an 11 captured Bazentin le Petit. Fighting is also proceeding around Ovillers. We ikave taken practically the whole of the village. Several German counter-attacks against tfiie new positions were successfully repulsed. We are now consolidating our gains. The troops are in high spirits over the surceases. ' lighting is proceeding at Debille Wood, a;j milo and a quarter north-east of Longueval. . i ENEMY'S SECOND LINE TRENCHES CAPTURED AFTER FIERCE FIGHTING' The High Commissioner reports:— •' London, July 14, 11.15 p.m. On the British front it is now possible to g fvc further details of the'action which began at daybreak this morning; Having drivon back the enemy to his second system of defence on Tuesday, Wednesday' was mainly sipe.it in bombardment of these formidable positions and preparations made for further advance. This morning after intense bombardment an as: uult was launched at 3.25 o'clock. Tho enemy was driven back from tho ti benches on the vliolo front, we taking many- prisoners. Fierce fighting all day 'st yadily increased our gains. We are now in possession of the enemy's second posi lions from Bazentin le Petit village to Longueval village, both inclusive, and the whole of the Trones Wood. At Trones Wood we relioved a party of tho Royal West Kents, who were separated in the recent lighting and surrounded b; ( Germans. They had gallantly held out in the northern encl of the wood for fc irty-eight hours. Two determined counter-attacks on our new po: »itions were completely crushed by our fire. Later in the day, after a fierce con bter-attack tho Germans recaptured Bazentin lc Petit, but wore immediately d triven out by our infantry, and the whole village is once more ours. A STUBBORN FIGHT ON BOTH SIDE! ? OF THE-SOMME. Australian-New Zealand Cable Ae6< iciation. London, July It. A German official message states that a stubborn f q?ht has developed on both' sides of the Somme. • Tho English attacked early in the morning at Jllamctz Wood and Trones Wood. They suffered considerably at Trones Wood b; ?' our reserves in a rapid night attack. The first enemy attempts were repulsed i I it'll sanguinary losses. The new attacks are developing . s There wore futile French attacks in the Barleux r tffiion, and westward of Estrces they wero unable to win a yard of ground. Al tempts to recapture the lost ground east of the Mouse failed. WHAT THE CAPTURE OF INDICATES. Paris, July U. The "i'otit Parisien'' states that, alter a tioiiibawlmei ftt of great intensity on Thursday, the British infantry assailed the German seconi® position dlong almost tho entire line. Tho fighting was most liorco on both sides. The British soizwl trenches at several points. ! Tho capture of liowibars' n.dicates fighting at a good y'deplh, inasmuch as howitzers aro not found in the first-lino tronches. GERMANS FACED WITH THE TOUGHEST .lOßl'i OF THE WAR. I ,li:iy H. The "VossiscJie ZeihingV correspondent on the West i'roi fct S3 T S: < /-Mie Germans aro faced with the toughest job of the whole war ajaini't tho J3riti3n, who appear determined to mako any «acrifice to succeed. Their attacks and counterattacks aro unceasing. HEAVY GERMAN CASUALTIES AT CONTALMAISON. ;Paris, July H. Tho German casualties at Coiiia'miaison totalled 12,000. Thit 1 is an indication of tho importance which was, attached to the position. BRITISH CASUALTY LISTS SHOW 101 OFFICE] feß DEAD. (Rcc. July 16, 5.5 p.m.) Londi »n, July 15. To-day'a British casualty lists contain tho names of 417 olliecrf <,i of whom 101 are dead.

BRILLIANT SUCCESS OF THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE NETWORK 01' FORMIDABLE 'DEFENCES CARRIED. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. July 16, 5.5 p.m.) The British offensive oil tho Gorman second lino is regarded. as a magnificent / effort' to glorify the I'renoh National Fete Day. The battle is still raging on ;iu.n extonded front, but the successes attained already make, ,Tnly 14 one of the jmost brilliant claj-s of the war. Owing to the rapidity of the advance, the British quicklv penetrated a front Ml noariy four miles, carrying a network ol' formidable defences which had (liken months to construct, and also cleared the Troncs Wood. Tho locale of'the present attacks is the pivot of the German battlefront, and )\i'- tlio most strongly defended point. General Von Einem throw in strong reinf'tircemonts, but Sir Douglas Haig outgciiorallcd liim. Tho new troops failed to nircst tho advance. Tho over-increasing bulge in the German front betweon Biiraeoourt «uid ihiopvul makes tho whole lino highly vulnerable. Tho capture ol Longuoval brings tho British advance in lino with the Preuc'h at Hardeconrt. It! is becoming increasingly probable that General Von Einem will lie forccd to retire to new positions. The woatlier is cool and favourable for tho British operations. BazontinleGrand is a. mile west of Longucval, and midway between Lomgueval and Contalinaison, and Ba/entin le Petit; ia a milo north-west of Baasntmle urandT I ' J.Thoro_ have been'comparatively fow German prisoners since .Tilly 1, from wh'.k'h it is inferred that tlio officers organising tho plans of resistance instruct the men what to do, and then retire to rear positions. Sir Douglas Haig's Objective. 'Xho importance of Pozieres is duo to its position athwart, of tho main road from Albert -to Bapaume, which is Sir Douglas Haig's objective. lS:e fighting at Ovillora concerned tho villago of which practically nothing rcmaillis excopt dust. The British guns swept tho village flat. Tho Germans aro still liolding out in great underground cellars, made by tho inhabitants. The progross fi'.t Ovillcrs and tho capture of the Bazontins, of which Bnamtin le Potit is tho larger village, bring tho British on tho flanks of the Germans at Poziercs, and threatening tho German rear. Tli B capture of Longueval cntailal an assault of Hill 500, a hundred feet high. ICho next difficulty to Longuoval is tho village of Guillemont,, which has bean piiworfnliy organised and armoured, and another fivo hundred feet hill. Tho capture *>£ Guillemont will bo appreciably easier, since tho Trones Wood, which 1 covers tljo village, has been cleared. The Frcnch to Resume the Attack. Sir lTpuglas Haig is still not master of tlio important plateau of Thiepvai, which is ia strong sector of tho GermaJi first line. Tho British approach to Combles, however, permits the lArencli to resume the attack, which had been: delayed jnnding the British advance. Tho Kronch in the Hardceourt position .'threaten d'oiiibles from tho south, whilo tho British aro attacking north-west. The outstanding feature of tho, now offensive was the extensivo transference of British; suns, which had been earned out with the utmost rapidity, in order to enable Getgnan positions in tho rear to bo captured before t'he Germans had time to fully ftwtify them. Sir Douglas Haig's object is to keep tho Germans on the move, knowing that sucoessivo positions afford increasingly less protection, and as tho ad-.mice continues it: will be no longer feasible for the Germans to carry on a reargil'ard struggle with, -detachments of machine gunnors while tho infantry is massed a#'; convenient stations for c&untor-strokes. Subterranean machine-gun emplacements will soori be rare. Trenches can bo dug quickly, but underground sheltere takiti weeks and months to link up into systematic defence. Tho splendid supplies of ammunition available put heart linto .the British infantry. Th'ttce is no chance of a repetition of tho Loos and Ncuvo Chapolle'mischance. , . : War Office Announcement. 1*l)c War'jOffics announces that sinco July 1, owing to tho success of tho bombardment, th of. slight wounds a-s compared with serious is very high, ■proving that fcfie enemy's artillery hail beon successfully dealt with. Tho troops are at last co'.jivinced that they have tho mastery of tho' Germans, and advance to each assault with greator dash and courage. BIBITISH PENETRATE ENEMY'S THIRD LINE SQUADIIO.B7 OF DRAGOON GUAIiDS USE THEIR SABRES. (Rec. July 16, 11.5 p.m.) , . , London, July IG. Sir Douglas (Haig Teports:—There was heavy fighting all day long on tho Pozieres-Guillem(int sector of tho second lino of defence, with: further important successes. Wo isnptured eastward of Longueval, in spite of desperate resistance, the whole of the ,'Debillo wood, and repulsed a strong counter-attack. Tho enemy's losses wero sever y.. Our troops'nui'tli ward of Bazeutin le Grand penetrated the third line at the Fauronx Wood, i h which wo obtained a lodgment. A detachment of the enemy in this neighbourhood was successfully accounted for by a squadron of Iho Dragoon Guards, tho fcfc opportunity for mounted action afforded our cavalry sinco 1911. . , _ . We captured :tho, whole of. the f-opd westward of Bazentin le Petit, and repulsed two counter-attacks. The pi-isoneis taken here inchido tho conniiander of a Bavarian regiment and his whole staff. We further acibranccd eastward' of Ovillers, and fought our way to tho outskirts of Pozieres. . ' ' Aerial results dltu'ing the last twenty -four hours were four Fokkcrs, three biplanes, and a double-winged aeroplane brought down, and an enemy train de-l-ailed. • . • V GERMAN} ADMISSION OF BRITISH SUCCESS. (Itec. July 16, 5.5 p.m.) . .. London, July 15. A German communique says: The British, in spite of heavy losses between Pozieres and I/inguenal penetrated our lines and occupied Trones Wood.- The attack was stemmed. >; GERMANS FOJB.CED BACK TO THEIR THIRD SYSTEM OF DEFENCE The High Commissioner reports:— ' London, Julv 15. Goneral Haigh reports: All well on tho British front. At one point wo forced back the enemy to his third system of defence, four miles to tlio'rear of th original front trenchss, .opposite iVicourt and Mamotz. During the twentyfour hours we captured: over two 'thousand prisoners. Tho British total exceeds ten thousand prisoners :rnd large quantities of material. SIGNIFICANT CHMGE IN GERMAN WAR CRITICISMS. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Bee. July 16, 5.5 p.m.) ■ _ London, July/15. There is a significant, kihange in the German war criticisms.. In the "Berliner Tageblatt" Major Mmraht, who is the_ chief mouthpiece of tho Germsui General Staff, admits the success of the Anglo-French offensive, and adds, "tho British always go systematically to work, commencing unimportant tactical advances, but finishing by discovering what they want done. Now they have enormous quantities of artillery ammunition. Tho British are 1 not braggarts; they always act with perfect sang froid and calmness in their judgment, which ouglit to warn us that they fight until their efforts are crowned with victory regardless of time or sacrifices:" . "GERMAN'S CANNOT E.ONGER LIVE IN A FOOL'S PARADISE." Oftec. Jnly Ifi, 5.5 p.m.) New York, July 15. The "New York Times," ,in a. striking article, says: "Germany cannot longer live in a fool's paradisei. She must realiso that there is 110 .'hope that sho will dictate the terms of peace. Germany wants peace, but with the retention of, Alsace, Lorraine,'and IJoland peace cannot bo suggested to men who surround Cho German armies with' a ring of fire, forcing them to light not for victory, but for life." , KAISER IN A VERITABLE FRENZY OF AGITATION (Red July IG, 5.5 p.m.) 1 > . Berne, July 15. The Kaiser is hurrying to and from tlio Eastern fronts in a veritable frenzy of agitation, owing to the Allies' simultaneous offensive. The Imperial train has been in constant motion since tho end of June. Hasty wnr councils have been held at various points. Tho German attempts to bullj- Switzerland to sell vast stores of cotton have failed. - ' EFFECTS OF THE ALLIES' ADVANCE FELT IN BELGIUM. (Ttec. July 16, 5.5 p.m.) ' Amsterdam, July 15. The effects of the Allies' advance havo already been felt in Belgium, where tho. Germans are constructing fresit defenco works. HUGE EXPENDITURE OF SEELXS IN THE SOMME OFFENSIVE / > (Heutor's Telegram.) London, July U. The "Frankfurter Zeitiuig" estimates that tho Allies fired 3,000,000 shells in j the seven days' bombardment preceding the Sommo offensive. ACTIVE ARTILLERY STRUGGLE IN THE SOUVILLE SECTOR OF VERDUN Australian-New Zealand Gable Association. Paris, July U. A communique states: "Machine-giia fire stopped two enemy attacks' north of the Aisne, in the region of Ville du Bois and Vauclerc; Plateau. "An active artillery struggle continues in the Souvillo sector. There have .'been patrol engagements, in Chenois Wood. FRENJH REPRISAL FOR GERMAN AIR RAID. fGe'c. July 16, 5.5 p.mj Paris, July 15. iA. French' communique says: Tho day was comparatively quiet oil the whole front. French aeroplanes last evening, as a reprisal for the bombardment of tlio open town of Luneville, dropped several heavy shells on the town of Mulheim. Another Frcnch communique says: AV o repulsed a German grenade attack north-east of tho Avocourt redoubt. Several German attempts to advance at Apremont failed under onr curtain fire. VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT IN THE FLEURY SECTOR. (Ecc. July IG, 11.5 p.m.l ' Paris, July 15. A Ironch communiquo says: Thorp was a vory violent bombardment on both sides of the Floury sector, with nothing important elsewhere."

RUSSIANS ON THE EVE OF A GREAT TRIUMPH HINDENBURG'S DESPAIRING SUMMONS A BIG TURNING MOVEMENT THREATENED ("The Times.") (Rec. July IG, 5.5 p.m.) , London, July Id. The "Times" correspondent at Petrograd, after visiting General Evert, says ft repetition of General Brusiloff's advance cannot bo expected, for there is a different enemy and different conditions, resembling tho Western front. There is il network of defences which are strongly held, necessitating a slow advance, preceded by terrific artillery bombardment, and the enemy is so unable to relieve the southern pressure. The battle at Baranovitehi drove back the enemy several miles, and the Germans, weakened on this front, withdrew two divisions from Ivovel. Prisoners are saying that they aro desperately snatching remnants from everywhere to stave oil rupture of this front. It is difficult to see from whero they are to draw further reinforcements without weakening other fronts, where the troops ftTO inadequate. Ten divisions are opposing General Evert. Officers captured on General HindonjSurg's front state that Hindenburg told tho _ men: 'Nothing remains between us and. tho Russian cavalry except your positions, which 3*oll must hold to your last breath and last dvop of * blooa. Ho has substituted fresh German Landsturm for Austrian corps. 1 ivUSsiaD9 penetrated and hold twelve miles by two miles within two days. A division drove tho enemy nearly four miles and were compelled to pause to level -up the flanks. The Germans'apprehended an opening of tho gates to allow* masses of Russian horsemen to sweep tho plains of Lithuania, turning the position of the Dvina and threatening East Prussia. The concentrated masses at the threatened point are managing eo far to comply with Hinden* end pamn " fnimTQ °DS 1 but tho numbers of the Russians must tell in the VALUABLE STRATEGIC POSITION OCCUPIED. Australian-New ZoaJand Cable Association. M. Ludovic, writing to tho "Journal Nadeau," states details come from the Chartorysk-Rafalovka frotit. When tho Austro-Germans wero hemmed in on three sides it was decidcd to retreat. Iliero remained only a loopholo for escape, a narrow passage twelve miles in extent, into which they rushed. The Russians cannonaded them from the north and south, and the cavalrv harassed and sabred them mercilessly from tho rear. rho panic was so intense that wo occupied a valuable strategic position which. lons seemed impregnable. GERMAN, RUSSIAN, AND 'AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL MESSAGES \ 1 . n «• ■ , London, July 11. A Uerman official message states:-A counter-attack on the Stochod line, neav /arepcchc, pushed back the advancing Russians. The enemy penetrated tho first lino of General Bothmor's army, but were thrown out by a counter-attack, with important losses A Bussian official message states :-On tho Stochod front tho enemy is attacking our ndvanced troops on tho left Ixi.nk of tho river. Thoro havo been despcrato Austro-Gcrma.n counter attacks westward of the otrypn. (Bee. July 16, K. 5 p.m.) ! , Vienna, July 15. Uthcial—Two Russian attacks on Bnczacz were beaten off. but tho third attack succeeded in piercing our lines. Tho enemy was completely driven out on tho left bank of tho Stochod. RUSSIAN ATTEMPTS TO CROSS THE DWINA CHECKED. (Roc. July ft!, 5.5 p.m.) » n • 'i, . , , , . London, July 15. A German communiquo s;i.ys:-Wo repulsed Russian attempts to cross the Dwina near Lennewadou. Prince T.eopold recovered parts of the, ground lost on Jnly 3, in the region of Skrobown. • GERMAN OFFENSIVE REPULSED. (Rec. July 16, 5.5 p.m.) . „ . '■> . London, July 15. A Russian oonumuuquo isaya.:— I Tho Germans assumed tho offonsivo on July H in I lie regions of Skrobowa, and were repulsed! FIGHTING NEAR DELATYN INCREASING IN INTENSITY. |l?ec. July 16, 5.5 p.m.) . . , . ' . ' „ , Amsterdam, July 15. An Austrian comiminiquo says:—South-west of •Mold.Wa (?) wo repulsed a Russian advance. Fighting near Delatyn is increasing in intensity. We repulsed enemy detachments, who penetrated tho town, and frustrated an attack south of Delatym ■ FORTIFYING INTERIOR LINES IN TRANSYLVANIA. ("The Times.") (Eec. July .16, 5.5 p.m.) "Tho Times" 'corrospoiident at Bucharest reports that tht^Huiglrian 1 !-;,,- thoritie.s are hurriedly fortifying tho interior lines in Transylvania with l?n<L sian prisoners, and are withdrawing numbers of Austrian troops from Serbia and sending them to Galicin. All heavy Danubian artillery has been sent to Przemrel. An immense crowd demonstrated at Tvresvar, and proceeded to tlin Town .Hall, and demanded peaco and bread. • Troop trains are daily arriving at Seghedien, directed to tho Italian and Galician fronts. The troops morale is low and exhausted.