STEADY PROGRESS ON THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2847, 11 August 1916, Page 5

STEADY PROGRESS ON THE SOMME

ON BOTH BRITISH AD FRENCH FRONTS ANZACS PUSHING IN WEST OP POZIERES mi Ti- lrt • ■ London, August 9, 2.45 p.m. Ibe High Commissioner reports; "In the vicinity of Guillemont there has been no change since yesterday. Northwards of Pozieres wo have made a further advance by bombing along tho enemy's trenches, taking 25 prisoners. In tho Yprcs. salient, between Bellewaarde Lako and the Yser Canal, the enemy heavily bombarded our trenches during the night, and from 10 o'clockto midnight discharged gas, which had little effect. Some partial attacks were made, but the enemy was unable to enter our lines." ~,, t, .... , . . , , , _ London, August 9,12.15 p.m. lhc British-official report states: North-west of Pozieres tho Australians advanced our lines 200 yards on a frontage of six hundred yards. Otherwise the situation is unchanged. As the result of our aeroplanes co-operating with our artillery, several of enemy's guns have been destroyed, and the magazines exploded. A train was fired by aeroplano bombs. Hostilo aircraft, are inoro active, obviously endeavouring to avoid combat. Several of tho enemy's machines have been damaged." WITH THE FRENCH ON THE SOMME SHARP FIGHTING AT HEM WOOD. The High Commissioner roports:— .... . , London, August 9, 3.5 p.m. North of tho Somme,_in tho coutee of the night, violent counter-attacks were made against the positions we took during tho lo<pt two days northwards of Hem Wood. The attempts were broken by our firo, the Germans suffering groat losses. All tho attacks were repulsed except one, when the enemy, retook a trench. A French attack later, secured tho greater part of tho lost ground. Active progress was made by means of grenades against tho trenches occupied by the enemy. Between Hem Wood and the river the Germans bombarded with heavy shells the new positions which we were consolidating, hi the region of Chaulnes, intense aitillory fighting was continued, notably between Lihons and the Chaulnes railway, where the Germane attacked, •penetrating one of our advanced points. Our counter-attacks with tho bayonet immediately ejected them." ' mi. -n , , London, August 9, midnight. ljie i ( ronch official report states: "North of the Somnie we entirely reoccupied tho trench north of Hem Wood, which the enemy gained a footing m on Tuesday night. Wc took 50 prisoners in tho courso of this action. We continue to progress in tho region of Hem Wood, where a lively combat' is developing, to our advantage. On the right bank of tho Meuse thero is great artillery action in the Thiaumont-Fleury and Vaux-Chapitro-Lo Chenois sectors." ' | GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Australian-Now Zealand Cable Association. London, August 9. A German official report states that tho Franco-British attacks north of the Sommo wero broken, and that a British attack at Ovillers and Bazentin-lc- " Pot-it failed. ON THE HEIGHTS OF THE MEUSE ' 1 ' ENEMY- AGAIN IN THE THIAUMONT WORK. \ The High Commissioner roports:— London, August 9, 3.5 p.m. _ "On tho right bank of the Mouse fighting round Thiauuiont work continued, during part of tho night. The enemy again entered tho work, after numerous' repulses. We aro on the immediate border of tho work, which our artillery has energetically bombarded. At the village of Fieury wo made progress with grenades. An attack by tho enemy on a trench between Vaux and Chapitro Wood was repulsed after a lively combat." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Amsterdam, August 9. A German communique states: "Fronch attacks at' Thiaumont, Fieury, and Chapitro failed." : FRENCH BOMBARDMENT OF "PERONNE-GERMAN ALLEGATION. (Renter's Telesram.) f v Amsterdam, August 9. German newspapers 'state that the French bombardment set -fire to Peronne, and that tho buildings destroyed include tho library, museum, and a famous picture gallery, containing works hy English and French masters. BELGIANS BOMBARDING DIXMUDE Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Reo. August 10, 9 p.m.) London, August 10. A Belgian official communique states:—-"Wo successfully bombarded tho ■ fortifications' in tho Dixmude region."