BRILLIANT SCORES BY THE BRITISH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2827, 19 July 1916, Page 5

BRILLIANT SCORES BY THE BRITISH

BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT, LONGUEVAL, AND OVILLERS' , GERMAN SECOND LINE STORMED Xha High Commissioner reports; London, July 17, 5.15 p.m. "On tho British, fronty further imjHirtant successes have' been gained. North and west of Bazentin-le-Petit Wood, we stormed and captured the Gorman second line of positions on a froivt of 1500 yards. The large number of German, dead in this sector bears evidence of the very heavy casualties which the enemy has suffered since oqr advance. ' . ■ ' • "East of Longueval we have still further widened the gap in the German second line, by capturing the strongly defended position of Wftterlot Farm. . "On our left flank at Ovillers and La Boiselle, where there has been continuous hand-to-hand fighting sinoe July 7, we captured the remaining enemy's strongholds, with two.officers and 131 guardsmen who formed the remnants of the brave garrison. The whole village is now in our hands." , . ; BRITISH CAPTURES TO DATE. •The High Commissioner reports: London, July 17, 11.50 p.m.' ' On the British front heavy rain and mists again interfered with the operations, and nothing important occurred to-day. "The total number of prisoners taken since July 1 amount to 189 officers snd 10,779 men. The captured'armament includes five eight-inch / and three 6-inch howitzers, four G-inch. and five other heavy guns, 37 field guns and 30 trench howitzers, 66 machine-guns, and --nany thousand rounds of gun ammunition. The above is exclusive of many guns which have not yet been brought in, audi numbers which have been dostroyed by our bombardment and abandoned. "The French front is comparatively ealm." , THE BRITISH ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE GAP OF OVER SIX MILES IN THE GERMAN LINES. . ' (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, July 17. 'io-day's review from Fans describes the British advance. The whole of tho German positions liavo been broken on a front of-six and a quarter miles, besides a dent iu the third line at the Foureaux Wood. BRITISH CASUALTIES IN TWO DAYS' FIGHTING. , (Rcc. July 18, 8.30 p.m.) , ■ London, July 17. Monday's and Tuesdays casualty lifts total 1031.officers and 43G1 men. . A REVIEW OF I'lIE SITUATION EXPERT VIEWS ON SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S SUCCESS. v . (Rec. July IS, 8.30 p.m.) ' London, July 18. The British withdrawal from Foreaux was due to Sir Douglas Haijr's deter mlnation not to expose his troops unnecessarily until the third German line had been thoroughly bombarded. To-dny's communique proves that it was not even a •temporary German success, b«t merely, proof that General Haig preferred to spend his energy in widening the gap in the second line. The capture of Waterlot Farm, 'between Longueval and Guilloinont, represents an increased pressure by the British on the German sWongliold of. Guillomont. It is expected that when the third line lias Leen pierced the progress of the attack will be easier. There -are fewer woods in the'direction of Bapaume, and the ground is less favourable for the construction of defence works. Experts are or opinion that now that Bazentin-le-Pcfcit and Longueval have been taken, thn Herman organisation in' the valley of tho Ancro is doomed. Tht, French critics point out that even the Kaiser's presence on tho Souimo, with speeches and Iron Crosses, and advice to his generals, has 'failed to check tho Anglo-French offensive. The experts expected that. General Haig's surprise attack on the German first line would be successful; they are now delighted to find that his attack on their second positions—under-rated against an enemy which had been heavily reinforced—has been also brilliantly successful. In view 'of tho British gams, n speeUy resumption of the French advance on Peronne is expected, but there are considerable difficulties to bo by tho French, owing to the German deforces, which are based on tho marsh and canal, on tho lower, or western, .gide of t'eronne. The town consists of three parts—first, tho Cathedral, second, Hlie Castlo of Louis XI, and third, a cemetery. All are dominated by tho village of Dumont St. Quentin,.. which in turn is dominated by the heights of Aizecourt. OPERATIONS ON THE FRENCH FRONT , FIGHTINQ EAST OF THE SOM'ME. The High Commissioner reports:— London, July 17, 3 p.m. "Between the Oise and tho Aisne, a strong enemy reconnaissance was dispersed by the French fire near Moulin sous-Touvont. "In tho Champaguc, a German coup de main on a trench in the Russian sector was rcnulsed by a counter-attack, with losses to the enemy. "Oil the Verdun front the night woo relatively calm, except at Hill 20-t (?304). whero tlio fusillade was lively. West of the Floury elements the French troops mado sonio progress, capturing three machine-guns. "Iu Lorraine, after a bombardmont f.lio enemy twice attacked our positions In the region of Han, eastwards of Nomeny. Both attacks wero repulsed, tho French taking some prisoners." ATROCIOUS WEATHER ON THE FRONT. i (Router's Telegram.) (Rcc, July 19, 0.50 a.m.) Paris, July 18. A French communique states:—"On tho right of the .Mouse the artillery duel has continued in the Tegioii of Souville. It is comparatively quiet on the Tea* of the front. The weather is atrocious." , FRENCH, CAPTURES AND BOOTY TO DATE. AusU'alian-Now Zealand Cablo Association. Paris, July 17. Semi-official.—From July 1 to July 13 llin French have captured 235 officers ond 11,741 men,- with many guns. A quantity of war material is still buried in tho wrecked trenches. GERMAN AMMUNITION TRAIN DESTROYED BY AIRMEN. (Rec. July 10, 0.50 a.m.) Amsterdam, Julj; 18. French aviators completely destroyed a Gorman ammunition train.

THE OFFENSIVE ACCORDING TO GERMANY THE OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. London, July 17. A German official message states that the Kaiser visited tho Genoral Stafl hospitals in the fjomme'battle area, and conferred Iron Crosses on tho wounded. (liec. July IS, 8.1)0 p.m.) London, July IS. "Tho English at mauy points between tho sea and tho Ancro increased their fire with great violence. Artillery activity on tho Sommo is very considerable on both sides. _ "Tho enemy's local attacks resulted in the English penetrating Ovillera Wood, and also led to lively fightiug south of Biaeiies, but their other attacks failed before our curtain of fire. "Extensivo French attacks commenced on July 15 east of tlio Mouse, and continued until this morning. Tho enemy achieved no success in tho sanguinary struggle. Wo lost ground at a few points." GERMAN FEARS FOR OSTEND. Amsterdam, July 17. Tho "Telograaf" reports that the Gormnus are removing books and documents from Ostend and other places, which are no longer considered 6afe, Flanders is full of soldiers, including youths of eighteen years, who entered the servico two months ago. THE "ANNEXATION" OF BELGIUM 'CONTROVERSY IN THE GERMAN PRESS. London, July 17. ' The Berlin Press is dividod as to the wisdom of Bio Imperial Chancellor's opposition to tho annexation of Belgium. The "Cologne Gazette" defends Herr vop Bethmann Hbllweg, asserting that it would be a mistake to "4wap horses in the middle of the. stream." It acknowledges that the British havo a hugo reserve in Flanders, enabling them to make continuous attacks with fresh troops. Count Reventlow considers tho Chancellor's policy unwise, as the Allies will interpret it as a sign of German weakening. The newspapers are discussing the possibility of peacc following the Allies' offensive. The "Tageblatt" offers the opinion that tho Allies will now endeavour to induce Greece and Rumania to participate' in the war. HOW THE GERMAN BATTALIONS WERE DECIMATED THE TRUTH IN CAPTURED DOCUMENTS. (Rcc. July IS, 8.30 p.m.) London, July IS. Tlio following, taken from captured documents shows tho very heavy casualtits suffered by the enemy, A company officer of the Ifith Bavarians "Tho company's strength is one officer an<t twelvo men. I beg urgently that you will send speedy relief. What remains of my company is so oxhausted that if tho enemy should attack the men cannot bo counted on." Ah officer in another company of Bn.vnriaJW reported that his company had completely lost its fighting Value. "The men are so exhausted that thoy cannot bn longer employed, and if this heavy artillory fire continues tlio company will 6oon be oxteiuninafced.'" An officer of tho 2nd Battalion of the lGtli Bavarians reported: "Our battalion consists at the present time of three officers, two non-ooms.,- and nineteen men." CONSTANT PROCESSION OF HOSPITAL TRAINS. \ (Rcc. July Ift, 6.50 a.m.) ' Rotterdam, July IS. Trains with German wounded are oonstailtly travelling through Ais-la-Cha-pelle. Eleven thousand severely wounded have passod through from the Pozieres-Bazentin front. A MILLION AUSTRO-GER.MAN CASUALTIES • DURING SPRING. ("The Times.") ' (Rcc. July 18, 8.30 p.m.) London, July 18. Colonel I'oylcr, tho Swiss export, autimates that the Central Powers have lost one million men during tho s-pring compaigns.