MYSTERIOUS GERMAN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2854, 19 August 1916, Page 9

MYSTERIOUS GERMAN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF

' BELIEVED TO BE GENERAL VON MACKENSEN.. : , : ', New York, .August 17. The New York "Times".correspondent at Berlin interviewed tlie German Commander-in-Chief at the Somme, who says: —"I hope the British offensive will continue. I have several hamlets which.l will gladly sacrifice for the loss of twenty thousand British each." The "Times" says there is reason to beliovo- that the mysterious German Commander-in-Chief at the Somme is General von Mackenscn. ; MORE GERMAN TROOPS FOR THE SOMME FRONT. London, August 17. Forty troop trains are reported to have passed through Cologne for the • Somme front. GERMAN SAILORS HURRIED TO THE SOMME FRONT. (Rec. August 18, 8.45 p.m.) London, August 18. : . The "Morning Post" states that prisoners captured la the Somme fighting include somo. naval rating's who participated in. the Jutland Battle. After the battle'they were hurried westward as a naval brigade-., j

' OBJECT OF -THE RECENT FRENCH OPERATIONS. ("The Times.") (Rec. August 18,.9 p.m.) London, August 18. The "Times" correspondent in- Paris states that ono object of Thursday's French operations was to cut through the Road in order to enable tho British: to turn Guillomont from the south and the French to oncircle Maurepas from the -north. Tho preliminary bombardment was begun-on Sunday, the Germans fiercely replying. The French have been equally successful south of Maurepas, and are steadily nearing tho village. The forest in tho centre of the Maurepas plateau,, south of tho Sommo, offers some difficulties, and south of the Belloy plateau, as far as Chaulnes, .has neon reticulated with defences.- - The "• main position of Villers-Carbonn'el, on the Paris-Bethune Road,, protecting tho trenches, has been carried. . COUNTER-ATTACK FROM MARTINPUICH REPULSED. (Hauler's Telegram.) . (Rec August 18, 9 p.m.) ... London, August 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"The enemy made most determined counterattacks with largo forces on a broad front yesternight. Six times German infantry advanced, and withdrew after the heaviest losses, our guns doing great execution. ■ The enemy iri'-ho case succeeded in entering our lines. "The enemy's counter-attack to-day from Martinpuicb was repulsed;" ' RIG INCREASE IN' FRENCH MUNITION OUTPUT. :-...-:.. ("The Times.") ._. . (Rec. August 18, 11.35 p.m.) ■ m , London, August 18. ._ The French shell output is 80, rifles 290, machine-guns 136, and guns 90 times greater than at the beginning of the war. DETAILS OF A BRITISH AEROPLANE RAID. : Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. August 18, 11.35 p.m.) ,'n • - -~•,.•„ Parls > August 18. A German prisoner gives details or a British aeroplane raid.on.St. Quentin at tho end .of July. He states that while two battalions were awaiting entrainment the'aviators' bombs fell on'an ammunition shed, and there wa s a terrible explosion. Sixty wagOons lying at the station ignited, also exploded, and destroyed the soldiers' train. The battalions panicked and lied, and 180 were killed and wounded. ..... ,