FIGHTING EAST OF POZIERES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2841, 4 August 1916, Page 5

FIGHTING EAST OF POZIERES

FRESH PROGRESS BY THE BRITISH STRONG POSITION TAKEN BY THE FRENCH The High Commissioner reports:— London, August 2, 4.15 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "During last night further .progress was made in tho hostile trenches east of lyzicres, where lighting at ciose quarters has l>oen in progress. A hostile oount'r-attack after dark last evening against our new tronches westward of High Wood failed to penetrate the artillery barrage." ! SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT, Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. August 3, !) p.m.) London, August 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The situation is unchanged, and all is quiet except for tho enemy's artillery, which is being directed against Trones Wood. Our artillery, in co-operation with the aviators, destroyed seven gun-emplace-ments and six ammunition dumps near Grandcourt, and others elsewhere." OPERATIONS ON THE FRENCH FRONT The High Commissioner reports:— London, August 2, 2.5 p.m. A French official report .states: "North of tho Somiuo our troops took a strongly-fortified work, occupied by tho enemy, between Hem Wood and Monacu Farm. Southwards of tho Somrao Itiver an attack in tho region of Estrecs enabled us to occupy a German trench north-west of Deuiecourt, with some prisoners. "In the Champagne sector, west of Auberive, a Russian reconnaissance force, with tho bayonet, charged against a detachment of tho enemy and dispersed it, the enemy leaving dead on tho ground. "On the right of tho Mouse-fighting was continued with violence during tho night ou tho Vaux-Chapitre-Chenois front, and south-east as far as tho region of Damloup. Tho enemy, after a series of ineffectual attacks—in which they used suffocating gas—gained a little ground in Vaux-Chapitro Wood- and Lo' Chenois. Otherwise all their attacks were arrested by our fire. In tho courso of these actions the enemy suffered important losses. We took 100 prisoners." HEAVY FIGHTING AT VERDUN GERMAN TRENCHES CAPTURED. Tho High Commissioner reports:— ' London, August 2, 10.15 p.m. "North of tho Somme no infantry action has taken place during the day. The . latest details of the attack on tho forti tied work which we carriod between Hem Wood and Monacu Farm show that it contained ono hundred German corpses; up to the present wo havo collected four machine-guns here. South of tho Somme two counter-attacks were repulsed by us northward of Doniecourt. "On tho left bank of tho Meuso there has been a bombardment of our lines with large-ctilibro shells at the south of Mort Homme. On tho right bank wo offccted several attacks, which extended from tho Meuso to tho south of Fleurv. fn tho wood immediately cast of Vacboranvillo and to the westward/ and soutliward of tho Thiaumont work, and also in tho ravine south of Floury, our troops carried sovorul of tho German trenches. Wo captured in tho courso of these actions about 800 prisoners and a dozen machine-guns. The enemy's counter-attack-in tho region of Vacherauville was repulsed with grenades, hi the. sectors of Vaux Chapitre and Lo Chenois a violent bombardment continues." ARTILLERY DUEL ON THE BELGIAN FRONT. {Router's Telegram.) (Roe. August 3, 9.10 p.m.) * Paris, August 2. The Havas News Agency states: 'A Belgian official communiquo reports that tho artillery duel continues on tho Belgian front, especially north of Dixmude." GERMAN OFFICIAL-COMMUNIQUE AustralianJJcw Zealand Cable Association. London, August. 2. A German official communiquo states: "Strong forces of the enemy vainly attacked from Maurepas to tho Somme. Our counter-attack caused sanguinary losses. "Tho enemy penetrated to the_ Maricourt-Cilery Road. Wo have made progress north-west and west of Thiaumont." t , A REVIEW OF THE SITUATION THE GERMAN THIRD LINE. (Rec. August 3, 7.30 p.m.) , . London, August 2. Tho Allies ar,o at present largely occupied in consolidating their gains. The intense heat is not interfering with tho methodical progress of General Haig's t'orccs or plans. Since Sunday the Germans havo made sixteen attacks on tho French between Hem Wood and the Somme, without result. Tho renewal of their useless attacks at Verdun reveal tho poverty of the German military schemes. Their chief endeavour seems to bo to keep the truth from their own people. The Prussian official lists to reflect their losses on tho Somme. Whereas the previous ten lists contained 27,685 names, the latest eight lists contain 42,405, being higher than tho worst weeks at Verdun. Tho General StafF is making most desperate efforts to'keep up the supply of reinforcements. German wounded soldiers who are convalescent are sent to tho front immcdietely they are regarded as being fit, and these unhappy men are placed in the front line directly they return, in order to conserve the strength- of tho unwounded men. ■ / Mr. Hilairo Belloc writes: "Tho great point of interest now is tho fate of tho Germans' third line trench system, which is cut below the summit of the plateau in order that it can only bo reached by indirect high-angle fire. The lino runs through Martin-Puich, straight to Mors, about a-mile in advanco of the present British .line. When tho offensive began it consisted of a 6ingle continuous trench, but the enemy has had a month in which to increase his fortifications." WHAT THE GERMANS SAY. (Rec. August II, 1 7.30\).m.) London, August 2. A German official communique states: "Since tho beginning of tho AngloFrench offensive ou the Sommc, which tho English call 'tho great sweep,' ono month has passed.. It is true that tho Allies havo obtained a curve of tho German front lino of 28 kilometres, with an average depth of i kilometres, but after their experiences on July 19, 22, 24, and 30 they do not assert that tho German line was then shaken at any point. Their achievement cost the English 230,000 - in casualties. Wo have no reliable basis for estimating the French losses, but tho total Anglo-French losses aro 350,000. Owing to the*-enemy's slow progress, ,wc have-had amplo time'in which to construct behind our present lines positions identical to those which we lost." A GERMAN WRITER'S WARNING. Zurich, August 2. Herr Gaedke (the military writer) states that the Germans must prepare for fresh fighting, and a slow, imperceptible change in favour of ono side or the other, unless they wish to expose themselves to disillusions. Germany's enemies aro unceasingly restoring their effectives, and are even stronger than at tho beginning of the war. Germany must remember 'that Great' Britain's naval supremacy was not destroyed nor even shaken by the glorious Skagerack victory. THE SOMME AND VERDUN COMPARED {"The Times.") (Rcc. August 3, 9.10 p.m.) London, August 2. The "Times" correspondent at Headquarters says that tho German estimate ■ of 230,000 British losses is a grotesque exaggeration. "The British,-" ho says, "may be proud of tho month's work, rth ich is comparable with the German effort at Verdun, with this difference—wo havo Iroken their front at every point, beating him in fighting power. Captured documents confirm' our. appreciation of tha importance of the'eaptured positions, the necessity of standing firm, making the enemy carve his way ovor heaps of coipses; tho documents also urgo tho posthaste construction of now defensivo lines in tho rear."