BRISK ARTILLERY DUEL ON BRITISH FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2842, 5 August 1916, Page 9

BRISK ARTILLERY DUEL ON BRITISH FRONT

SMALL MINE EXPLODED CONSOLIDATING THE GROUND GAINED Tho High Commissioner reports:— ■' London, August H, 'J. 50 p.m. Sir Douglas Huig reports:—"During the night the work of consolidating the ground gained and opening: communication trenches has continued. "Our guns were active, and the enemy retaliated briskly during the evening at, Exmaltzhorn Farm and Longucval,' also in the woods of llamotz, Fricourt, nnd Recourt, and at tho village of Poziercs. The fire slackened at dawn. <"The enemy exploded a small mino iu tho neighbourhod of Souche7,; there ivwe no casualties, and little damage was done." ' ■ ENEMY'S REPORT OF THE OPERATIONS. Australian-Now Zealand Cable As<ociation. London, August 3. ' -A' German communique states:—Between tho Ancrs and the-Sommo our curtain of fire checked tho oncniv. 'Heavy English attacks broke down astride the Albort-Bapaume Road nnd west of T rones.

Thn French' marie seven attacks between Mnnrcpas and the Sonune, but only ■succeeded in peuetr.itirig Moiiacu Farm. .-. The French made seven attacks between Burleux and Estrees. The enemy, on the right bank of tha Meuse, got a footing on Pepper Ridgs and. in .the. front trenches south-west of Fleury, We heavily repulsed tha 'enemy ui; Thiaumont and south-casL of Fleury. MINOR-ENGAGEMENTS ON THE-BRITISH FRONT The High Commissioner reports-.— London, August 1, 1.5 a.m. r -A .British official report states that north of Bazeutin le Petit we gained ground by , bombing.; ' '"During the night the enemy sent four strong detachments towards Delvijle AVoo'd, which we'allowed to' approach within close range before opening tire. All were repulsed with heavy loss. In one place fifty of the enemy were caught in-mass formation by machine-gun fire. "Our heavy artillery bombarded an enemy strong point between Pozieres and Thiepval. . The garrison fleeing across the open were caught in our field guntire. "On Tuesday we caused a big explosion at Courcelette. "Throughout the day the enemy's artillery maintained a- barrage west and 60uth-west of Pozieres, and shelled Longueval, Mametz, and Caterpillar Woods. Further north they shelled the-villages near Arras and Armentieres, and dropped tombs on the outskirts of villages, without doing damage. "In Giveijchy' district .we bombarded the enemy's lines at Hohenzollern. "At Loos salient, there was considerable' trench mortar activity on both sides, , "Two eneiny aeroplanes were brought down in the northern section of our line, one of which seems a new pattern. ■ ■ ••"Three of our-machines were brought down by the enemy's, gunfire. GERMAN ESTIMATE OF THE ANZACS » Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec.- August i, 9,15 p.m.) . Rotterdam, August 4. .The "Berliner Tageblatt's" correspondent admits that sharpshooters specially placed in breastworks pick off Anzac officers, and adds: "We. won't say anything against the Australasians, for they are Btrong fellows, but we don't like their faces and eyes. They are not the kind of people to appeal to us. They are good marksmen and, fearful fighters, but not a single "Bavarian fears them," FRENCH. MAKE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. (Keuter's Telegram.} ■ Paris, August 3. A communique states:—We made substantial progress southward of Fleury, and reached tlio outskirts of the village. ' OVER ELEVEN HUNDREfi UNWOUNDED PRISONERS ' SECURED. : . The Hitrh Commissioner reports:— London, August 3, 3.10 p.m. "To the northwards of the Somme we repulsed during the night several Ger.man attempts directed on Monacu Farm, and organised new positions between the farm' and Jleiu Wood. _ , ~. -n "It is confirmed that German units engaged 'in the region of Monacu Harm have been relieved in consequence of heavy losses since Monday. "South vf the sdihuie an enemy counter-attack southwards of Estroes failed under fiie. ■ ' ■ • ' • "On the Tight bank of the Meuse the Germans several times made counterattacks on trenches taken yesterday. They were repulsed everywhere. Our curtain and infantry fire broke the otfoi ts of the adversary, who. suffered heavy losses Following our ndrnntagM, we seriously advanced south of Fleury, reaching the village and passing 'the station. Tho number made prisoners -in. the region of' Floury yesterday is aver 700, bringing the total to over 1100 uawounded°brought into our linos on the right of the Meuse. • ' ~ "11l tho region of Vaux-Chapitrc-ChenoTs there is. intense artillery action, but no infantry aitacV. '~/.«»■ "In the Apremont Forest, enemy patrols wero dispersed with fire. BRILLIANT SUCCESS OF THE FRENCH NEAR VERDUN ■ ■ The High Commissioner reports:— London, August I, 12.30 p.m. French official:—"On-the Somme .front no .infantry action took place during "the course of the day.- ■ .. . _ "Our artillery continues active in the region of Monacu Farm.: "On the right bank.of the Meuse our infantry, following up an offensive action on the front between Thiaumont and Fleury, carried'during the day, by a series of successive attacks, nil the trenches comprised between those two points to the south-east of Thiaumont work and to the border, of Hill 320. "The village of Fleury was attacked north-west and south-east at the same time, and' entirely occupied by our troops, after a brilliant combat. The number taken, prisoner in the course of this action, actually counted, exceeds 650, making a total of 1750 unwounded prisoners' taken on the right bank of the ileuse since Tuesdjiy. .' . . "About the same time we launched, in the region of Chenois, a lively attack, enabling us to recapture a large portion of the ground lost on-Monday. "There is an .intermittent cannonade on the rest of the front."