FRENCH STRIKE HARD AT MAUREPAS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2850, 15 August 1916, Page 5

FRENCH STRIKE HARD AT MAUREPAS

A TERRIFIC ATTACK SOMME LINE NOW STRAIGHTENED J Tbo High Commissioner reports: o London, August 13, 3.10 p.m. *■ & British official report states:—"On the plateau nortli r west of Bazcntin-le-Petit wo gained ground towards Martinpuich, capturing trenches. Northwest of Pozieres wo made a further i mportant adrancc of 400 yards, on a front of nearly a mile, and with slight losses, in spite of heavy enemy cur/tain of fire." ■ . _ SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT.. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. fßec. August 14, 6.5 p.m.) London, August 14. . Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"Our artillery scattered a large concentration.of the enemy's forces north of Pozieres. Our aviators, m a long-dis-tance raid, greatly cTamaged some railway worts. OPERATIONS ON THE FRENCH FRONT :• PROGRESS SOUTH-EAST OF FLEURY. , Paris, August 13. 1 A French official communique states: — : "We' have consolidated the conquered ground northward" of the Somme. Slow progress has been made S ° Ut "Our fc aS squadrons dropped 120 bombs at the railway f station at' Mete and the railway workshops and bariacKs at Metz. (Rec. 'August 14, 7.10 p.m.) • Paris, August 14. '"A French official communique states:—"Small combats have enabled us to make progress on the slopes of Hill 109, south-east of Maurepas. There has been violent artillery firing at Barleux and Chaulnes. Our curtain of fire and grenades stopped a strong German attack yesterday south of Avocourt." BRILLIANT ASSAULT ON MAUREPAS (Rec. August H, 7.10 p.m.) ' ' Paris, August 14. A'brilliaiit success, resnlting in tho capture of four miles of the German third line east of Hardecourt and tlio river, permitted the French to carry Maurepas and the high ground -west of Clery. ' A stupendous massed bombardment which lasted twenty-four hours, smashed the German defences, and levelled the supporting trenches. When the artillery ceased, tho infantry swent upon the demoralised enemy with linfhtning speed, and absolutely crushed tlieir resistance with the bayonet. The infantry operations lasted less than ninety minutes. The French losses were singularly small, one regiment capturing Maurepas. Tho casualties.were less than 10 per cent Some of the finest Bavarian troops were wiped out in hand-to-hand fighting at Maurepas and Hill 109. ■ STRATEGIC VALUE OF THE FRENCH SUCCESS (Rec. 'August 14, 10.45 p.m.) q New York, August 13. The New York "Times'" Paris correspondent, cabling on Sunday, says: -J'The strategic value of yesterday's French successes north of tho Somme consists in. tho straightening of the Allies' lin© ana tho stopping of the German onfilnding firo against the French positions, which were formerly a salient south of the river. The rapidity, accuracy, and completeness with which the appointed objects wero reached but nowhere rashly surpassed proves that the French havo now evolved a perfect system of warfaro against Which the Germans are impotent. The French are now within a mile and a half of the "Route Nationale" from Bethuno to I'eronno, the possession of which will mean tho piercing of tho whoid German scjieme of defence m Picardy Their succcsses have also relieved, tho British on the adjacent front. Tho progress of tho Allies in tho West is slow, but sure,.. Their task is to hold tho Germans with inexorable pressure wliile the Russians' advance scatters tho Austrn-Germniis un til on the East and West alike the Teutons will be involved in the linal disaster." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE ■ London, August 13. 1 A' German official communique states:—"The whole of the Allied forces ! made a united attack on the entire front from Thiepval to the Somme. Tho I attack between Thiepval and Guillemont broke down with the heaviest losses Southward, as far as the Somme, heavy hand-to-hand fighting with the French forces continued all night, and is still.in engross near Maurepas and eastward of Hem. A French attack asauint Biaches completely broke down. We | repulsed enemy reconnoitring detachments at various points. ANOTHER GERMAN GENERAL RETIRED. Berne, August 13. Tho Kaiser placed General Mantouffel, the commander of the, 14th Corps at the Somme, on tho retired list, after tho British successos. THE PRICE OF AMATEUR VALOUR Now York, August 13. The New York "World's" Paris correspondent, describing the Sommo fighting, says:—"The Anzacs wero more terrific in attack than tho French colonials;'but they paid the price of still being amateurs, while the French colonials are seasoned professionals. 1 believe that the Anzacs, backed by French artillery, would bo next to invincible."

MAROONED BY ARTILLERY BARRAGES ("The Times.") London, August 13. Tho "Times" correspondent at Headquarters gives a curious instance of tho isolation of parts of a wido battlefield by artillery barrages. Troops of Germans who were cut off died of star Nation, excepting some officers, who crawled through the curtain of fire. NUMBERS WILL TELL IN THE END Australian-New Zealand Cable AsEociation. New York. August 13. ; The Now York "Times" states:—'"Tho strength of the belligerents in men will be tho decisive factor in the war. Tho best information .indicates that tho Allies have 23,300,000 effectives, a.nd the Teutons 10,600,800.".