DESPERATE FIGHTING ON POZIERES PLATEAU

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2845, 9 August 1916, Page 5

DESPERATE FIGHTING ON POZIERES PLATEAU

ANZACS' GRIM ORDEAL GERMAN ATTACKS HURLED BACK The High Commissioner reports :— London, August 7, 2.30 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"The situation is unchanged. Hostile-'bom-bardments continue between the Ancro and the Somme. The enemy launched several small counter-attacks, but all were repulsed with loss, and we retained the ground l gained yesterday. During the night the enemy's trenches east of NeuviHe-St. Vaast were successfully raided. South-east of Bois Grenior the enemy made an endeavour to raid our trenches, but the raiding party was unable to reach our lines, being driven back with loss." ' London, 'August 7, 11.65 p.m. "On the Soucnez front the enemy exploded a mine and entered our trenches, : but was immediately bombed out again." SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (By Telegraph—P*ess Association—Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. August 8, 8.35 p.m.) London, August 8. Sir-Douglas Haig reports:—"German attacks north-east and north of Pozieres penetrated our new trenches at a few points, but the enemy was driven out, with many casualties and losses in prisoners. . The first two were made at 4 o'clock in the morning; two others arrived at 8.30 a.m., and a fifth one at 4 o'clock in the afternoon —feeble attempts—were easily repuls cd." \ • FRESH GLORY WON BY THE ANZACS GRIM work; with knives and revolvers. (Kcc. August 8, 9.40 p.m.) London, August 8. The Central News' Paris correspondent writes:—"The Anzacs won fresh glory in yesterday's fighting north of Pozieres. They firmly held the trenches, skirting the Bapaume Road, against attacks by three Saxon, and Bavarian regiments. Both sides lost heavily in knife and revolver ■ fighting, but the colonials did not yield. Their magnificent resistance enabled a British unit to attack the enemy on the left flank and drive them off in a north-westerly direction.. British counter-attacks west, of Pozieres then hurled the Germans from their trenches, enlarging our giins towards Tliiepval. Thp German losses were heaviest at Pozieres Mill and Hill 160. Three German battalions, advancing in echolon, were mown down by the oblique fire of the British guns, the remnants scurrying back in disorder. • ON THE FRENCH FRONT. The High Commissioner reports: * , . London, August 7, 2.55 p.m. "North of the Somme and in the region of Oliaulines tliore is intense mutual artillery fighting." ' London, August 7, 11.55 p.m. "North of the Somme, at the end of the afternoon, we. brilliantly captured » lino of German trenches, taking 120 prisoners and ten machine-guns. South of the Somme our artillery was very active and effective in a destructive fire' on the enemy's batteries in the Lihons region.".FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Zealand Cabin Association. x (Rec. August 8, 8.35 p.m.) > ' _ Paris, August 8. A French official communique states: —'""Wo carried a line between Hem Wood and the river, and severely damaged the enemy's batteries in the Lihons district." ON THE HEIGHTS OF THE MEUSE TWO GERMAN ATTACKS' BROKEN.^ The High Commissioner reports:— London, August 7, 2..5.1 p.m. 011 the right bank of the Meuse, after artillery preparation, the Germans launched an attack on Thiaumont work. The attack was arrested by our curtain of fire. The enemy beine: unable to debouch in this area, returned to tho trenches. In tho region of Vaux and Chapitre Wood, an offensive action by the enemy, preceded by a violent bombardment about 7.30 in the evening, was broken by our artillery and machine-guns. The attack completely failed. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Dec. August 8j 8.35 p.m.) Paris, August 8. A French communiquo states:—"Wo made progress southward of Thiaumofit, and capturod somo houses on the western part of the village of Flouty."

SUCCESSFUL FRENCH AIR R.AIDS. Australian.Jfew Zealand Cable Association. Paris, August 7. I A French official communique 6tates: "Wo bombed tho railway stations at. Metz-Sablons and Thionville, the factories at Rombach, and the bivouacs at Etain." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE London, August 7. A German official communiquo slates: "As the rosult of our counterattacks we retain trcnches at Pozieres. Wo completely repulsed two French attacks at Monacu farm. . "Fighting oil the Thiaumont ridge coased 1 without advantage to the enemy." FRESH BRITISH TROOPS READY TO BE POURED IN London, August 7. Mr. Lloyd George (Secretary of State for War), when reviewing tho Canadian troops, said: "When tho foe is boginning to be exhausted we will prepare to pour in troops. Britain's sons will eomo rolling in. _ from the prairies of Canada, tho grca.t islands of the Southern Seas, Africa's sunny mountains, and India's coral strand. Wo are federating this great Empire for a greater future enterprise. As it was before, it will never bo again. It will bo one great coherent unity, which will do more to mould the direct destiny of the world than, anything in tho past."