A LULL ON THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2840, 3 August 1916, Page 5

A LULL ON THE SOMME

ACTIVITY ON THE VERDUN ' PROGRESS MADE BY THE FRENCH Tho High Commissioner reports: ' London, August 1, 3.10 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"There is no cliango iu the general' situation today. Northwards of Bazentin-le-Petit a hostilo attack was successfully repulsed. Heavy artillery firo was mutual during tho night. Elsowhero nothing of note has been reported." London, August 1, 11.5 p.m. ' ?'There has. been no change in tho situation anywhere on tho British front." OPERATIONS ON THE FRENCH FRONT The High Commissioner reports:— London, August 1, 3.15 p.m. Tho French official report states: "North of tho Sommo tho enemy did not renew his attempts. At night, north of the Avre, after a violent bombardment, the Germans attacked in tho region of Lihens, aai two surprise attacks failed under our firo. "On tho right of tho Mouse, artillery fire was violent during the, night. In tho region of the Thiaumont work there was a bombardment of heavy shells at b'uuiiii Wood. West of Pont-a-Mousson, in the sector»near Flirey, threo enemy iniuo chambers .ivero exploded, and wo occupied the craters." > London, August 2, 12.45 a.m. A later French official Teport says: "sSouth of tho Sommo wo captured a trench between Estrees and Belloy-en-Santorre, taking sixty prisoners. • On tho right bank of tho Mouse, following a violent bombardment lasting part of Monday night, the Germans attacked.our positions west of tho South Thiaumont work.* Our curtain of iire and liHchiue-gun firo broke all tho enemy's attempts. Some fractions of the enemy reached our tronches, but were ejected by our coun-ter-attacks. At the end of tho day we progressed with grenade attacks south of ■the Thiaumont work. At tho same timo the Germans attackea onr front at Vaux Chapit-.'e and Lo Chenois. At tho last point, they gained a. footing on some of oiir advanced elements, but were soon ejected. Everywhere else attacks were stopped by our lire with great losses." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE Australian-New Zealand Cablo As€ociation. Amsterdam, August 2. A German official communique states':—"The English penetrated tho High Wood, but were driven out. We Tepulsed an attack, on Maurcpas, and drove back the French advance at Monacu farm. "We destroyed positions northward of Floury. Tho enemy bombed Coroiiios and other places, in our Tear, doing unimportant damage. There were numerous civilian victims." THE BRITISH "BAG" FOR THE FIRST FORTNIGHT OF JULY" (Rec. August 2, 8.10 p.m.) Paris, August 2. Tho "Bulletin des Armces" soys that ns the result of tho British offensive during the first fifteen days of July 12,000 Germans were taken prisoner, 35 field guns, u naval gun, several large howitzers, and an enormous quantity of trench guns, trench cannon, and munitions were captured. At least twenty-one aeroplanes were brought down. Prisoners state that tho German losses wero so serious that they had to call up twelve, divisions which wero resting on other sections of the front. AN INTERVIEW. WITH GENERAL HAIG New York, August 1. Mr. Frederick Palmor (the American Press correspondent with tho .British finny),'writing from the West front, describes Sir Douglas Haig as keeping up his exercise, and insisting on plenty of sleep. Consequently ho is as fresh as when war began. Pir Douglas Haig, in an interview, said: 'The tidp has turned. It is only°a question of time whon wo will have a decisivo victory. Events have proved that,.man for man, the British are superior." Captured officers admit that Germany is beaten.