BRITISH ADVANCE TO FOUREAUX WOOD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2831, 24 July 1916, Page 5

BRITISH ADVANCE TO FOUREAUX WOOD

ENEMY DRIVEN OUT A COUNTER-ATTACK DISLODGES THE BRITISH The High Commissioner reports-.— London, July 2.1, 3.15 p.tn. "General Haig reports:—Between the Leipzig Redoubt mid Belvillo Wood the buttle continues without intermission. "Northwards of the Bazentin-Longueval lino the British advance has been pushed forward to Foureaux Wood, from whence the enemy ivas driven. During tho night tho enemy counter-attacked, after an intenso bombardment with gas shells, and succeeded in effecting an entry in the northern part of the wood, but failed to dislodge us from tho southern half. "Elsewhere tho situation is unchanged." • . ' SHREWDLY CONCEIVED ATTACK ON LONGUEVAL Australian-New Zealand Cable Association.. . London, July 21. The "Daily Mail's" correspondent in France writes"The German "attack on Longueval was shrewdly*conceived, and if successful would have endangered the front whero tho French and British lines meet: The enemy pretends that only a brigade was engaged, but French experts estimate that there wcro six divisions (twelve brigades) on a-two and a half-mile front, Despite tho tremendous odds and tho exceptional fury of the Germans, the British magnificently withstood the attack.'" TERRITORIALS PROVE THEMSELVES GREAT SOLDIERS

LONDON REGIMENTS CAUGHT IN 'A DEATH-TRAP. London, July 21. .Mr. Philip Gibbs writes that in tho offonsivo the Territorials proved 1 hemselves groat soldiers, both in attack and resistance.' The Queen's Westminster Rifles, the Queen "TOiforla Rifles, the London Rifle Brigade, the London Hungers, and the' London Scottish Rifles, advancing from Gommecourt, reached the German lines and captured a network of trenches with amazing speed. Tlie enemy put up a barrago of high explosives through which no living thing could pass. Tho Londoners were caught in a death-trap, their escape being cut off. The enemy's barrago smashed our communication trcnches, and prevented supports reaching tho men in tho captured salient. Thoir comrades 'desperately attempted to send ammunition. One party of sixty, with hand grenades, set out, but only three returned. The enemy organised a series of counter-attacks. , Some of the eiiciny parl'ics approached tho Londoners from th.o northern position, from whenco the enemy enfiladed tho London Scottish, who'tTere on tho right, holding a redoubt . and building barricades. Ammunition grew scarce, and tho bombs were almost exhausted. The Londoners gathered German bombs, but th e position became uglier. The men aevor lost heart. . An officer rallied six good men, and o others to retreat with tho wounded, and tako a chance across No Man's Land, while ho put up a last 1 fight. He stuck to tlio barricade until all but two were killed. Ho was Che last to leave. i Gradually the Londoners withdrew under a'great shell fire. Many of the wounded remained on the field, suffering great anguish, for days. One officer, who was wounded in, tho leg, crawled about the field for twelve days before being rescued. WONDERFUL GALLANTRY OP HIGHLAND REGIMENTS GRAVE ANXIETY BEHIND THE GERMAN LINES. (Rec. July 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 22. . Mr. Philip Gibbs says the present stage o£ the advance is causing us very hard fighting for important positions on high ground, which must bo gained and held before there can bo new progress over open country. Tho enemy is gathering reserves and flinging them against us, to check the onward movement at all costs. Ho has apparently brought now batteries of heavy artillery, because hia fire ill increasing. German prisoners reveal the grave a nxiety reigning behind the German lines, whore they do not minimise tho greatness of our menace, and are straining every nerve to formidably resist. On Thuisday the enemy lost many men mid valuable ground against both the French anil English. Early on Thursday morning, after a long bombardment, Wb attacked between the Belvillo high woods and westward oj these positions. The enemy was in great strength, and maintained a strong defence., The Germans suffered severely, and wer p forced' to retroat in disorder. 1 Upon, some parts.of tho lino some Scottish soldiers had a bad time.. They lay under the cross-firo of great British and Germnn shells and field batteries. We were firfng twelve-inch and fifteen-Inch slie(ls, whioli went roaring through the air, and exploded in vast earth-shaking crashes. Tho attack was made before dawn on rising ground towards the high road which used to go across from the high wood to Belvillo wood. There aro now no roads, as our bombardment has torn the earth into a series of <l?ep craters. The Germans had a Mne of dug-outs here, built with great Enste since July 1. Our troops, working round the liigh wood and advancing in tho wood itself, over fallen trees and the bodies of German dead, were determined to get on, and hold on.' During the day they. organised the strong points captured on tho western side, and all on the southern part of tho position situated on the L'ongucval-Belvillo wood. Tho positions on tEo north-east of th at village liffil been very full of tronbld • for tis ever since oui; Highland regiments took them on July 14. Nevertheless, the Highlanders bold them with dogged endurance for nearly a week, and frustrated the enemy's efforts to recover tho old ground. Tho gallantry of the Highlanders wan wonderful.. Their fiiat dash at Longiieval was ono of tho' finest oxploits of (ho war. They were led by the pipers Into the thick of tho battle. Ono regiment advanced to the tunc of "Tho Campbells aro Coming." Then tho pipes screamed tho charge, which is .most awful music to thoso who h'avo tho Highlanders against them. With 'fixed bayonets they stormed tho German, trenches, where there were many concealed machine-gun emplacements and dug-outs, so strong that /iio shell could smash them, but tho Highlanders,. flinging themselves in twos and ,-three into the vaults where tho. enomy was packed, and scornful of all danger, bayoneted tho Germans, who defended with the most stubborn courage. Tho Highlanders dug tronchcs across tho village. Tho enemy barraged tho villago with progressive lines of heavy shells, ynrd by yard, but stopped short of where some ranks of the Highlanders were lying down in fours. Tho casualties'were heary among officers and men, but the Highlanders held on. I MARKED SUPERIORITY OF BRITISH AIRMEN TWO AIR COMBATS BEHIND THE GERMAN LINES. Tho High Commissioner reports:— London, July 22. 1.10 a.m. "British Headquarters reports that o.vcept for local encounters there was a lull in tho main battle area on Friday. There has boon no change in tho situ- i nllou since'tho last report. ■ , I "The enemy attacked with bombs on tho north edge of our position and , the Leipzig salient was entered at one point of our front trenches, but were driven out. "Tho Royal Flying Corps successfully bombed several points of military importance. . . "Hostile aircraft were inactive until tho evening, when thero was much' fighting behind tho German lines. Ono of our offensive patrols encountered eleven German machines, threo of whioh were brought down, ono in (lames. "An encounter between four of on r machines and six of the enemy lasted I'ort.v-fivo minutes. Ono Fokker was brought down, and another badly damaged, and the remainder relinquished tho fight. A fifth German aeroplane was brought down. . "It is now established that the enemy v assault in "Bolville AVood area on a front of two thousand yards, on .Tufy IS, was ma do l>y quite thirteen battaltfms. drawn from four efficient divisions. Tho enemy's losses were correspondingly great." SIX HOSTILE AIRCRAFT DESTROYED. Australian-New Zealand. Cable Association. (Rcc. July 21), 11.35 p.m.) London, July 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The day without incident, except that our airmon brought down six hostile aeroplanes." 1 . I BRITISH IN POSITION TO THREATEN GERMAN THIRD LINE. (Roc. July 22, 6 p.m.) , ... „ ... London, July 21, Sir Douglas Haig's report shows that the British aro now in a position to seriously threaten the German lino in tho I'ourneaux Wood, tho highest ground in tho sector. The ridge commands th e German positions beyond where tho country is less broken and less wooded. Latest accounts show that the Frcn ch attacks yesterday were extraordinarily successful. .Picked troops were chos e n to attack tho German positions from the Hardoeourt Height to the river at T n '">si. and Biaches. The attackers loft the trenches at dawn, and by nino o'clo ckhad completed tho task which the Staff oxpeotod to occnpy tho entire day. Tho German counter-attacks left tho French masters of nil captured position s -

IMPETUOUS ATTACK BY FRENCH COLONIAL TROOPS. (Router's Telegram.) (Rec. July 22, 5.30 p.m.) m , ... Paris. July 22. Tho positions captured on the Vermandovillers lino are of great strength. French colonial battalions attacked at somo points so impetuously that tliev over-ran three lines of trenches .witliou t loss. Elsewhere they were less fortunate. At Soyecourt labyrinth they carried by assault tho village, which they surrounded on three sides. Two whole enemy companies defending the redoubt near Vermandovillers Farm wero captured, also a company belonging to a regiment brought from Verdun. Among the prisoners was an extraordinary jumble of WurtemburgcrK, Saxons, Badeners, Bavarians, and Prussians, mostlv between tho ages of seventeen and twonly. SEVERAL MINOR' GERMAN RA IDS REPULSED. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. July 23, 5.5 p.m.) ' Paris, July 2-. r A French communique states:—"Seveial minor German raids were repulsed on various fronts. "Our air squadron thrice bombarded the Metz-Sablons station. Great damage was observed." GREAT ARTILLERY ACTIVITY ALONG BRITISH FRONT. Tho High Commissioner reports:— London, July 22, 8.55 a.m. "Sir Douglas Haig reports that for the past twelve hours tliere lias been great artillery activity on both sides along the British front, and support trenches. Several places were heavily bombarded with gas and\ tear-shells. "Tho French official report states that between the Oisc and the Aisne astrong enemy reconnaissanco was dispersed in the region of Iloulin-Houst-Ouveiit. • - . ' "nt'Bolante, in tho Argonne, we exploded a mine successfully. "At La Fillo Morte a coup-de-main by the enemy on our small posts was easily repulsed. "On tho right bank of tho Mouse, in tho Fleury and Fumin Wood sectors, there was a violent bombardment. "An enemy attack south of Damlour failed under our enrtain fire. "In tho Vosges, after a lively bombardment, tho Germans attacked at 11 o'oloek yesterday evening our positions north-west of Saint Die, but wcro repulsed with, heavy losses. "Yesterday, our aeroplanes thrice bombarded 'the station at Metz SaUons, dropping 115 shells of heavy calibre, doing considerable damage. A German ■aeroplane which pursued one of ours was compelled to descend." ■ ! ENEMY REPULSED ALL ALONG THE FRENCH FRONT Tho High Commissioner reports: ■ London, July 21, 3.15 p.m. "The French officialTeport says:—Southwards of the Somme the enemy yesterdav counter-attacked onr new positions, south of Soyecourt. An assaulting RattoTfon was caught under our curtain fire and machine-guns, and retired in disorder, suffering very heavy losses.' Tho night was calm on both sides of tlie Sonmie. ' , , , "Iu the region of Chaulnes, a strong enemy detachment which attempted to reacli our lines south of Macourt was repulsed with the bayonet. "Between Soissons and Reims our reconnaissances, after a favourable mine explosion, penetrated an'adversary trench, which was then swept clear with Br ° "On the Verdun front the.ro is great artillery activity in the sector.*! Chattancourt. and Fleury. "In the Vofigcs. following a violent bombardment, the enemy attempted to attack our positions northwards of Weissenbach, but was successfully checked." FRENCH REPRISALS FOR GERMAN AIR. RAIDS. The High Commissioner reports:— London, July 21, 3.1u o.m. rii'-ip-T yesterday and last -night, our aerial squadrons bombed several im-ry--roMifs on the enemy's front, including the stations at G'onflans, Marsi- To iv<ni. Brieulles Junction, and Ham, where numerous heavy projectileo we"" i'r""oed. On th° 17th. 18th. and 19th, the open foyns Baccarat and Luneville were liom'-nrilcl b<- the enemy's aerial squadrons, but tho damage done was imuia-, tonal. Reprisal' will bo taken. • FRENCH OPERATIONS SOUTH OF ESTREES. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association; , . ■ (Rec. July 22, 5.5 p.m.) • • Paris, July 21, Th'- T'vsneh operations south of Es trees were necessary to protect the Tight flunk n f Hie previous, attacking front, which was constantly under strong German artillery fire, the special object of tho Germans' defence, being to protect l>rii u "heads at Eterpigny end Brio. The Germans between Estrees and Chaulnes, and Chaulnes. and If-oye, hold most formidable ground, whith they have transformed into veritable labvrinth*. ENEMY PREPARED TO M:VKE SACRIFICES TO HOLD THE WEST-FRONT. (Rec. July 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 22. Tho "Daily Telegraph's" Rotterdam corre3pondont_reports that within three weeks 340,000 Germans were sent to the WcsE iTont, oi wnom a hundred thousand wero fresh reserves,, tho balance being soldiers who had recovered from slight; wounds. - The German General Staff-hold every other consideration subsidiary to holding the Franco and Flanders line, and are prepared to sacrifice not a little territory at certain 'points on the Eastern front if it becomes necessary to withdraw troops for the West. ■' _ CLAIMS AND ASSERTIONS IN GERMAN COMMUNIQUES (Rec. July 22, 8.30 p.m.) . i Amsterdam, July 22. A (iermnii communique says:—Tester day's English attack in tho Fromelles region by two strong divisions was repulsed. We counted two .thousand bodies in front of our lines. Tho enemy's- strong attack with over two hundred thousand on both banks of the Somme t ailed. The enemy captured only three kilometres of our front lina' southward 8 of Hardecourt. , '■ 1 ■ (Eeuter's Telegram.) (Rec. .July 23, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 22. A German comiminiquo asserts that tho Allies have abandoned the' great uniform attacks on the Somme after their defeat during the previous days, and claims to have Captured many prisoner« when they cleared the British out near Foureaux Wood.

NEWSPAPER EFFORT TO STIMULATE CONFIDENCE Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Roc. July 33, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 22. The Berlin "Local Anzeigcr" says the situation should fill Germany with the greatest confidence, as the pressure at Veraun has allured the British from their trenches, and we huvo weakened them appreciably. Britain bleeds from thousands of wounds, as never before daring the Empire's existence, ffhon the small results and the enormous losses become known, the British cries of vict'&ry will soon bo silenced, and i a bad awakening will follow." WHAT GERMAN WAR CORRESPONDENTS ADMIT. (Rec. July 22, 7.50 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 22. German war correspondents <jn the West front admit strong enemy pressure on tho whole front, and that tho Allies are harrassing . the Germans everywhere. They state that both tho British and tho French are employing numerous mine-throwers with mines of a new kind. . "WE MUST.IMPOSE A PEACE WORTH HAYING" (Roc. July 23, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, July 82.. A representative of the "Statin" bad an interview with" Sir Douglas Haij;, wlio said: "The supreme decision of the war has to bo gained- on the "West front. Wo must impose there a poace worth having, bccauso we shall have paid for it." v "HE PREPARED HIS SOUP AND NOW MUST SUP IT" KAISER'S ADDRESS TO HIS PRUSSIAN GUARDS'. (Keo. July 22, 5.5 p.m.) ■ ' ° Amsterdam, July 21. The Kaiser, addressing tlie Prussian Guards in April on their transfer from the Eastern front to tho Champagne sector, said: "Tho foe here is tougher, more resisting, adroit, and versatile. He is defending his native soil with tho resistance of despair, but it must be bmken. He prepared his soup, and now he must sup it. I look to you to see to it." It is notable that nil these regiments suffered heavily in the rcccnt fight-