BRITISH CAPTURE THE ENTIRE DELVILLE WOOD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2837, 31 July 1916, Page 7

BRITISH CAPTURE THE ENTIRE DELVILLE WOOD

BRANDENBURGERS DRIVEN OUT FURTHER PROGRESS IN LONGUEVAL AND ' " POZIERES \ ' ' -■ The High Commissioner reports'!— / . ' London, July 28, 3.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: After severe "fighting, we drove the sth .Brandenburg Division from the remaining positions in the Delville Wood, capturing threeofficers and one hundred and fifty-eight men. The whole wood is now ours. . ' Two German counter-attacks were beaten off with heavy loss. ~ We made further-progress in Longueval village, and also near Poziercs, in the latter area capturing forty-eignt wounded Germans. During the night the enemy guns were aetivo against our new positions, and there were heavy artillery duels in"-various sectors. Near Neuve Chapelle, small partlc3 of Germans succeeded in entering our front trendies at two points, bnt were immediately driven out by a counter-attack, leaving wounded. North-east of Souch'ez,, and also at other points, we shelled the enemy's front and communicating trenches. "THE ANZACS BORE THE BRUNT OF THE GRUELLING" "THEY WERE LIKE LIONS AT LARGE." ;.' . ' \ Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. . London, July .28. An. othcer, of one of tho'London regiments, who was wounded at .Poziercs, says: "The Aiizacs bore tho brunt of the gruelling, but we .were always' in line with them. They were like lions at larga, and revelled in the fray. The example of these great fellows spurred ub on at every turn. Even in the face of the deadliost machine-gun fire, it was a sight to stir the blood to see the Anzacs and Londoners stand up to the Kaiser's elite troops."A NETWORK OF RAILWAYS AND ROADS. Paris, July 28. :A correspondent who visited tha- Snmiue front states that the British and French troops havo constructed a thousand kilometres (about 700 miles) ot railways, with over a hundred stations, for the transport of munitions, and hun. dreds of miles of roads for tbe motors conveying the troops. GERMAN REPORT OF THE BRITISH OFFENSIVE. London, July 2b. A Berlin'communique states: "After intense artillery lire, tho British made strong attacks near Poziores and the Poureaux Wood, but tho attacks broke down completely. Bitter hand-to-hand fighting occurred at Longueval and the Delville Wood, but the enemy made no ptogress.". RUSSIANS CLEAN UP AN ENEMY TRENCH IN CHAMPAGNE The High Commissioner reports: London, July 28, 3.10 p.m. A French official report states that north of Canines an enemy attempt on the trenches near Lihon9 was repulsed by our fusillade. In the Champagne, in the region of Aubcrive, a reconnaissance by Eussian troops penetratetl and cleaned up an enemy trench with grenades, and brought Sack prisoners. On the right bank of the Meuse nil, attempted attack by tho enemy on the Thiaumont work was completely checked. , ' I HAND-TO-HAND STRUGGLE AT POZIERES. The High Commissioner reports: London, July 23, 3.55 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: During last ■ night two more of the enemy's desperate efforts.were made to recapture Delvillo Wood, and wero repulsed with heavy loss. A hand-to-hand struggle northwards to north-eastwards of Poziercs and neighbourhood' of Highwood continues without intermission, and we are making progress in all threo places despite violent opposition. Since yesterday, artillery lire mutually increased with intensity. . There is abundant evidence of losses we indicted during the laat few days which wero extromejy severe, particularly ut Delville Wood, where two or three regiments appear to have been annihilated. A, GERMAN COMMUNIQUE. Australian-New Zealand, Cable Assosiation. (Rec. July 30, 5.5 p.m.) \ London, July 29. . A German communique 6a ys: Enemy attacks in the Poziores region, also duo north of the Somme, were stifled. ' HOW DELVILLE WOOD WAS CAPTURED. (Rec. July 29, 7.25 p.m.) London, July 28. Mr. Philip Gibbs reports: "On Thursday .morning wo again took Delville Wood all but a narrow strip in the north. Our concentration of guns secured a most intense series of barrages upon one position. Since July 1 the bombardment took lino after line from south to north in progressive blocks. The fire flung every description of shell into Devil's Wood, so that one great volume of smoke arose and covered it with a dense black pall. Britishers who returned said it was. easily the worst place on earth. It was just crowned with corpses, and it was ovtr these bodies that our men stumbled when thoy crept forwnrd slowly and cautiously behind the great barrage clearing 6 The history of the fight at this corner sinco July 14 is one of tho most wonderful things,'for sheer stubborn courage, done'inthis great battle. / INHABITANTS ORDERED OUT OF SAPAUME. (Eec. July 30, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 29. The Germans have ordered tho inhabitants to evacuate Bapaumc, and are busily fortifying the houses., TWO GERMAN ATTACKS IN THE VOSGES REPULSED. (Roc. Julv 29, 8.15 p.m.) « Paris, July 28. ' A French communiquo says: Grenade and mine fighting enabled us to occupy two craters at La Fille Morte. We made some progress wcstwnrd of Thiaumont work. . ' ' Two German attacks in the -Vosgw southward of Col de Sainto Mario wero repulsed, the first'by the bayonet, and curtain fire dispersed the second, inflictr ing material losses. In many air combats wo brought down the Germans. The High Commissioner reports:— , London, July 29, 3.10 p'.m. A French official report states: On tho. Somme front two enemy detachments attempting to reach our lines westwards of Vermandovillcjs were repulsed by mr fusillade. On the left of the Mouse the Germans' attempted attack on Hill 304 failed under our fire. On the right bank two German attacks on one redoubt in tho ravines south of Fleury were broken by our infantry and curtain five, which inflicted ".serious losses. Our troops, following up their operations, took portions of the trenches north of Chapelles-Tcline, and in tho region of Thiaumont work, where they captured, a machine-gun. Lively artillery firo is in progress in Fumin Wood in the Chcnois 6ector. THREE AEROPLANES AND A BALLOON BROUGHT DOWN. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. July 30, 11.20 p.m.) ; London, July 30. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Except for minor local actions and heavy'artillery firing on both sides, thero is nothing important on the Somme front. There is the usual trench war elsewhere. Wo brought down tlircc aeroplanes and a balloon. SIR.DOUGLAS HAIG'S THANKS TO LABOUR UNIONS. (Renter's Telegram.) (Eec. July 29, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 28. Replying to a mossnge of congratulation from the General Federation of Trades Unions, Sir Douglas Haig lologi-aphod his warmest thanks: "All Tanks realise how much their success was due to the patriotism, self-denial, and wholehearted co-operation of brother workmen at Home,"

RUMANIA AND THE ENTENTE GERMANY'S FEARS DETERMINING FACTOR IN THE SITUATION ("Tho Timc3.") London, July 28. J.ho "Cologne Gazette" states that England and Russia are endeavouring >to coerce Rumania. Important conversations are proceeding between Sir Edward Grey and tho Rumanian Minister. Tho "Gazette" warns Rumania of the folly of intervention, asserting that tho Russian offensive is at a standstill. . _ ' Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. \ ' (Rec. July 29, 4.55 p.m.) ,„, „., r New York,, July 2S.i llio how York American's" Berlin correspondent reports that the Germans fear Rumania will join the Allies. Rumania's decision is hanging in tlie balance, and the determining factor will be tho military events of the next fortnight. TURCO-RUMANIAN RELATIONS (Renter's Telegram.) (Rec. July 30, 5.5 p.m.) Bucharest. Julv 20. All Turco-Rumanian conversations regarding the exchange of supplies liavo been' broken off. SERBIANS AND BULGARIANS MEET AGAIN BULGARIANS BEATEN BUT DECLINE TO ADMIT IT. ' CBeutcr's Talesram.) (Rec. July 29, 5.5 p.m.) Salonika, Julv 28. Official". —Serbian troops have driven back the Bulgarians who were 'in Greek territory, north of Vadena, after a sharp engagement. Auslralian-Xcw Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. July 30, 5.5 p.m.) ' . London, July 20. A Bulgarian communique denies the Serbian successes, and claims that tounter-attacks ousted tho enemy. TURKS CLAIM A SUCCESSFUL AIR RAID. I (Rec. July 29, 5.15 p.m.) Amsterdam, July 25. A Turkish communique says: An aeroplnno successfully bombed .enemy vcssals in Tencdos Bay. Enemy warships landed more than a hundred bandits eastward of Alvalik. Tho fighting resulted in 'the bandits' retreat. PRISONERS AND BOOTY AT ERZINGAN ' The High Commissioner reports:— London, July 29, 4.i5 p.m. Russian official.—A Caucasian native division of cavalry took Erzingan and 20,400 prisoners, 51 guns, and other booty were captured up lo Friday. The advance towards Kharput continues. Near Mosul a Turkish attack was forced back, the enemy fleeing in disorder.