FRANCO-BRITISH ADVANCE ON THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2853, 18 August 1916, Page 5

FRANCO-BRITISH ADVANCE ON THE SOMME

SEVERAL TRENCHES CARRIED 7 AUSTRIA'S PLIGHT ; MWNET DISCUSSES PEACE WITH ' ITALY ; • / THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE ' ' After tho lull, tho storm. Tho Franco-British lino on' the Somme, alter a brief period of com parative quiescence, has again advanced after a heavy bombardment culminating in a try attack, with tho result that a substantial area of fresh ground has been taken from the Germans, together with important defousivo positions. The British, also, havo ousted tho cnemv from their last vantage point on tho plateau commanding tho Thiepval-Pozieres-Courcelotte triangle. On tho Russian front in Europe tho ■ onemy has been engaged at certain points west of the Zlota Lipa, in Galicia, and cjectcd from his positions; two towns in tho Bystritza have been occupied; and tho Russian pressure in the Delatyn and Voroksta regions is compelling the enemy to fall back westward. Tho latest news indicates a lull on the front. Captured officers state that tho Staff is discussing the question of peace; from another source, the Austrian capital, comes a report that tho Cabinet has been meeting to .discuss the question of securing a separate peace with Italy, in order to concontrate upon Russia; while from the window of his railway carriage the Kaiser has told a sycophant crowd to go to church and pray fpr victory—and an honourable peaoc. Two successful attacks, with a haul of prisoners, aro reported from the Italian front. Tho appointment of Count Andrassy to the Austrian Secretariat of Foreign Affairs is interpreted in' Paris as indicating a unification of Austria's and Germany's military and political policies,,with Germany as managing director.