GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS ON THE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2839, 2 August 1916, Page 5

GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS ON THE

ENEMY HEAVILY BEATEN PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEXT MOVE The High Commissioner reports-. London, July 31, 2.50 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "During the night we improved the positions we gained yesterday. As the result of local encounters we advanced at some points on plateau northwards of Bazentin-le-Petit." GOOD WORK BY THE AIRMEN. The High Commissioner reports: 1 ■ . London, July 31, 11.55 p.m. "There was no infantry fighting on the British front to-day, and no incident of note occurred. The Royal Flying Corps effected several raids, and. dropped seven tons of bombs on tho enemy's communications and billets. A train was blown up, an ammunition depot was fired, and a hostile aeroplane, which was on the ground, was destroyed. Many aerial combats took place,- and several of the enemy's machines wore- brought down in a damaged condition. Threo of our machines are missing." OPERATIONS ON THE FRENCH FRONT Th'o High Commissioner reports: ' „ London, July 31, 3.5 p.m. The French official report states: "Northwards of the Somme, last evening and during tho night, the Germans multiplied their counter-attacks on our positions at Hem Wood and Monaeu Farm. Fighting was particularly violent towards Monaeu Farm, where the enemy, for.au instant, got a : footing. A brilliant return offensive immediately enabled us to resume possession. At Hem Wood all the" attacks were repulsed by our fire. In the course of these attacks, the fire of our batteries to the left of tho river enfiladed the Germans, inflicting heavy losses. . ■ "On the left bank of the Meufic a German attack on the northern slopes of Hill 30-1 failed under our fire. "On the right bank a. small detail operation enabled us to make progress in the region south-west of Fleury, and to tako 20 prisoners. A grenade attempt by the enemy, westwards of Yaux and Chapitr'e Wood, was unsuccessful." ■ ' ' London, August 1, 12.10 a.m. The French official report states: "North of the Somme, the Germans continued their attack on Home Wood and Monaeu Farm. ■ All attempts failed, with serious loss to the enemy. We aro holding all our conquered positions. "On the right bank of tho Mouse, violent fighting continues in sectors of the Thiaymont work and Fleury. There is no event of importance to record on the rest of the front. "On Sunday night, ono of our squadrons bombarded the German militMy factories Rt Thionvillc, tho stations and Audun-le-Roman, and also tho encampments in the region of Etain. A REVIEW OF THE SITUATION THE POINTS OF THE BRITISH ATTACK. , Australian-New Zealand Cable Association, (Rec. August 1, 6.35 p.m.) ' ■' London, July 31. Dutch reports 6how that there is a cessation of big movements of German reinforcements westward, proving that her man jpower is now at the Western' front, but,.the enemy is still rushing up_guns, hoping to counteract the British superiority in men. It is estimated that there are seven hundred German batteries on tho Somme front. The fiercest fightin" continues, and the present spell of hot, clear weather is facilitating air work, in which tho Anglo-French aviators maintain their superiority. - Tho immediate Anglo-French objectives are Ginchy, Guillemont, and Maurepas, which screen tho township of Comblcs, which tho Germans have transform-ed-into a fortress. Any progress by the Frcnoh east of the Clery-Combles line will threaten the Gorman position at Feronne, which is still tho main object of tho French attack.. There is fierce fighting in tho woods north of tho main road to Ginchv. The Combles woods wero strongly organised by the Brandenburgers, who had'taken up a position in these woods after their defeat in the Lon»ucval and Delville Woods, and tho British have sworn to effect the complete rout of the Brandenburgers from their now position. A continuous supply of heavy shells is the governing factor in the fighting. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE London, July 31. A. Berlin official communique states: "The English operations at Pozioros and 'Longueval were heralded by a great bombardment by the British and French on tho whole front from Longueval to the Somme. " "Tho enemy employed at least six divisions' in the attack on Pozieres and Longueval,'but was repulsed everywhere with frightful losses. The British did not gain a foot of ground. '„ "We captured 12 officers and 700 men. , , NO GROUND FOR BELITTLING BRITAIN. (Rec. August 1, 9.25 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 1. The German newspaper "Ivreuz Zeiliuig," warning Germans against Major Moraht's optimism in belittling-England, declares that there are no grounds for the conclusion that Australia, Canada, and South Africa cannot send more troops. "Not without reason do British statesmen speak of the rich sources of men and material within their Empire;' and England is very strong financially." * VITAL STRETCH .CRAMMED WITH TROOPS. (Rec. August 2, 0.55 a.m.) London, August 1. Correspondents state that tho Gormans have'dug many new trenches behind Guillemont. Among the now guns brought up by them is n^naval 11-inch gun. It is believed that eleven battalions gaTrison a vital stretch of trench about two thousand yards near Guillemont. The British artillery's toll is therefore correspondingly heavy. Somo of the, German entanglements are fifty yards doep.