GREAT CANNONADE ON THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2846, 10 August 1916, Page 5

GREAT CANNONADE ON THE SOMME

PRELUDE TO NEXT BIG ALLIED GUNS PULVERISING THE GERMAN : TRENCHES "* ■ '■» 1 . .The High Commissioner reports:— , ■ London, August 8, 3.30 p.m. General Sir Douglas Haig reports"After his five fruitless attempts yesterday north and east of Pozieres the enemy made no fresh infantry attacks,\hut maintains a heavy artillery bombardment on this front, and also on otlier portions of the battle area. During the night we pushed forward to places eastward of Trones AVood; fighting proceeds on the outskirts of GuiilemontJ near the railway station! - On the eastern portion of Liepzig salient the enemy attempted a bomb attack on our' lines, but was driven back without difficulty. North of Rodincourt two of our raiding parties successfully entered the German lines, and blew up dug-outs.. A hostile squadron of ten aeroplanes endeavoured' to cross our lines yestorday on a bombing expedition. They were cut off by one of our offensive patrols—of four machines —and the enemy's machines scattered, returning precipitately, and pursued by our patrols. Two hos tile machines were forced to descend behind our lines. Condon, August 8, 11.25 p.m. The British official report says:—"South-west of Guillemont we advanced''on a line of about four hundred yards. Fighting continues near Guillemont North-west of Pozieres tho enemy mado four attacks; on our trenches, again using liquid fire. Three . failed completely, but by one ho managed to occupy about fifty yards of oui- trench. The enemy shelled Longueval, High Wood, and Pozieres, and also the vicinity of Mametz. Elsewhere matters are quiet." • ' ARTILLERY PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEXT BIG ATTACK ' \ \ GERMAN POSITIONS "DELUGED WITH METAL." '' > ■ j . ' Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec.'August 9, 8.5 p.m.) Paris, 'August 9. The Allied artillery delivered an oxceptionally severe bombardment, Jast-, iug for forty-eight hours, on a 4fi-kilometra front (27 miles), from Thiepval to tho outskirts of Roye. Tho first, second,'and even the third German lines were deluged with metal, and many of tho German batteries were knocked out. This development shows that the Allies have consolidated their rccent gains, and are ready for,tho next,forward sweep. Tho Germans arn manifestly greatly perturbed at the prospect of a renewal of tho offensive, and their aviators are endeavouring to loca to our concentrations and the region of our probable attack. Tho Allies' activity on tho Somme is mentioned jn tho latest communiquos, and is regarded as great local movements, preluding more serious movements. , j WITH THE FRENCH ON THE SOMME The High Commissioner reports: ... < ... . . London, August S, 3.5 p.m. Tho French official report says:—''North of tho Sommo the French infantry, operating to'tlio right of the British, in courso of an attack directed by the latter on Guillemont, advanced to the east of Hill 139, northwards of Hardecourt, taking 40 prisoners. East of Monacu Farm the Germans attempted, twice during the morning to retake the trenches conquered yesterday. Repulsed by infantry fire, the enemy retreated, leaving a number of dead "before our lines. Two hundred and thirty unwounded prisoners'were taken by us'in that region yesterday." London, August 9, 1.5 a.m. A Frenoli official message says:—"North of the Sornrne wo increased our gains of yesterday by capturing in a little wood a trench which had been strongly organised north of Hem Wood. This we hold entirely. During the last two days we conquered, north of Somme, a whole liuo of German front trench, six kilometres (3 3-5 miles), in extent, and from 300 to 500 metres in depth. In Champagne, on Monday evening, after a lively bomfidrament, strong defacements who attacked with' grenades our positions north-west of Tahuro and our little pos Is at Hill 193, were caught by our fire and oispersed." EFFECTIVE AIR-RAID ON MULHEIM Tho High Commissioner reports:— - London, August 8, 1 p.m. "Tho Admiralty's report for July 30 says:—"ln conjunction .with tho French, the British naval attacked the benzine stores and tho barracks at Mulheim. In spito of heavy anti-aircraft gun-fire they succeeded in gaining -their objective, carrying out a successful bombardment. Our machines returned safely." r . ~ \ ' EXPLOITS BY FRENCH AIRMEN. Australian-New Zealand Cable Aseociation. Amsterdam, August 8. French aviators bombed the Mons railway station and troop trains. More wounded traversed Mons during the first fortnight in July than during the previous year. A military train was blown up near Liege, blocking all German trains from Belgium to the left bank of the Meusc. GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE London, August S. • A German official communique states:—"Tlic enemy continues to make stubborn attacks between Thiepval and the Somme, especially at Pozieres and Bazentin le Petit. Southward of Maurepas there was bitter hand-to-hand fighting, which was generally in our favour." We repulsed enemy attacks on the Somme."- ,

ON THE HEIGHTS OF THE MEUSE

HEAVY ATTACKS BY'THE ENEMY REPULSED. The High Commissioner reports: — London, August 8, 3.5 p.m. On tho right of tho Mouso a bombardment was repeated during tho night, with extreme intensity, on tho Thiaumont-Flcury 'front, and lasted until five o'clock in the morning. Tli o Germans launched a serios of strong attacks with largo effectives on our positions outside tho village of Floury as far as north of tho Thiaumont'worlc, and accompanied by a curtain of firo on our rear. The attacks were arrested on tho Fleury Road and in tlie village, maehinc-gtin firing causing lieavy enemy losses. Tho Germans entered tho Thiaiimont work after a bitter struggle, whicli continues. "In the Vosges the enemy's detachments attempted to reach our trenches near Senones; they wero easily dispersed with riflo fire." . London, August 9, 1.0 a.m. "On the right of tho Mouse tho combat continued with bitterness all along the front botween Tliiaumont and Fleury. By their rcraarkablo tenacity our troops repulsed the enemy, who sought by counter-attacks to drivo us from tho ground we had conquered during the recent days north-west and south of the Tliiaumont work. Assuming the offensivo, we reoccupied all the elements of tho trench where the onomy had gained a footing in the course of the struggle ; and penetrated the Tliiaumont work again. On tho Vaux-Chapitre-Leehenois front wo carried a lino of'trench, and at certain points two linos of trenches. One contained one hundred Gorman killed and wounded. In these different actions wo took prisoner six officers and 200 men, and captured six machine-guns."