LATEST NEWS FROM THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2855, 21 August 1916, Page 5

LATEST NEWS FROM THE SOMME

GREAT ADVANCE ON ELEVEN-MILE FRONT (By Telegraph—Press 'V&soo'iiitiou— Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. # 1 (Rec. August 20, 11 p.m.) London, August 20. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Operations were carried out on Friday at various points on our front from Thiopval to the : extreme right, southward of Guillemont—a distance of about eleven miles. It- was a most successful attack. We captured a ridge to the south-east, overlooking Thiepval, and the northern slope of high ground northwards of Pozieres. We hold tho western edge of High Wood and tho enemy's trenches extending for half a mile westward of the wood. We advanced our lino 'half way to Ginchy, and hold the outskirts of Guillemont, including tho railway station and quarry, which are of considerable military importance. Wo took prisoner sixteen officers and 780 men. We mado further progress north-eastward of Pozieres, on both sides of the Pozieres-Bapaume Road, for a distance of three hundred yards north-eastward of the windmill. The enemy bombarded our positions, but made no infantry attack." ON THE FRENCH FRONT BRILLIANT ASSAULT AT MAUREPAS. ' The High Commissioner reports: . ',„.,•' London, August 18, 3 p.m. fho'Jrench official report states that several of the enemy's counterattacks south-east of Maurepas were broken. ■ London, August 19, 10.10 a.m. . Official.—"The French attack north of the Sommo against that portion of Maurepas which was occupied by the Germans enabled us to capture, in tho course of a billiant assault, a notable part of the village, with 200 unwounded prisoners' Between Maurepas and tho Somme wo extended our positions." .'■■'■■ . ' London, August 19, 2.10 p.m. The French official report states: "The enemy's counter-attacks at Maurepas, towards Clery, were broken, except once, north of Maurepas." FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ■ ■ Australian-New; Zealand Cable Association. (Rcc. August 20, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, August 19. A l'rench communique states: 'Wo expelled the enemy from his foothold in a trench, north of Maurepas, and actively consolidated our conquered front." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE s A RELUCTANT ADMISSION. (Rcc. August 19, 5.5. p.m.)London, August 18. A German official communique stales:' "North of the Somme the enemy 13 eontinmng his efforts, regardless of sacrifices. The British brought up fresh divisions south-west of Martinpuich. They pressed back our first line on a narrow front.'?

(Eeuter's Telegram.) (Reo. August 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 19. Router's Amsterdam correspondent states that the German communique reluctantly admits last night's successes by tho Allies, and adds: "Tho Germans withdrew from the salient between Guillemont and Maurepas according to plans." Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Reo. August 20, 11 p.m.) London, August 20. A German communique states: "Wo victoriously resisted a stupendous effort by our combined enemies on tho Western front. Franco-British masses, after a most violent bombardmont, attacked over twenty kilometres (12 miles) of front, between Ovillers and tho Somino. Tho battlo raged far into the night. The enemy penetrated our first line at several points, but was driven out. We occupied sections of trenches on both sides of Guillemont. The enemy's efforts, on the whole, failed, costing him tremendous loss." OVER, 3,000,000 GERMAN CASUALTIES ADMITTED. (Rec. August 19, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 18. Over three million casualties are now officially admitted by Germany. y DEVASTATION BEHIND THE GERMAN LINES. New York, August 18. Carl von Wiegand, the Berlin correspondent of the "New York World," states that there is appalling devastation and desolation for miles behind the German lino at tho Somme. The Allies are not shelling the towns more than is necessary, yet Royo is partially in ruins, Peronne is burning, and Bapaumo is tho picture of destruction. Hundreds of tho inhabitants refuse to leave, and are living in cellars. Many of the German bomb-proof shelters are thirty feet underground. He saw a subterranean hospital below the officers' quarters. GUILLEMONT AND MAUREPAS UNDER CONVERGING FIRE. New York, August 18. The "New York Times" correspondent a!t Paris statos that, as a result of Wednesday's success, Guillemont and Maurepas are under the Allies' fire from three 6ides. Tho capture of the villages is merely a question of time. ADVANCE ON THE HEIGHTS OF THE MEUSE FLEURY RETAKEN BY THE FRENCH. London, August 18, 3 p.m. Tho High Commissioner reports: "On tbo right of tho Sleuse, tho Germans wore chased out of Fleury, some fractions maintaining thomselves in part of tho ruins of the village. Wo mado progress between Thiaumont and Floury." London, August 19, 10.10 a.m. "On the right of the Mouse we continued our offensive, pursuing the enemy from two fortified redoubts north-west of tho Thiaumont work." London, August 19, 2.10 p.m. "On tho left of the Meuso yesterday evening two German grenade attacks on the.salient east of Avocourt redoubt and the trenches on Hill 304 were unsuccessful, reaching our lines and then retiring,' leaving dead and wounded on the ground. We took foot by foot an island of ruined housus in east Fleury. All the village is now ours, despite two counter-attacks. Wo took prisoner 300 of the enemy on tho right bank of tho Meuso on August 17 and 18." ' GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rcc. August 19, 5.5 p.m.) . ■ _ ' London, August 18. A German official communique statos: "The enemy attacked between the Thiaumont work, Chapitro Wood, and Fleury." (Rec. August 20, 11 p.m.) London, August 20. A German communique states: "Repeated French assaults on the right bank of the Meuso broke, with heavy losses to tho enemy. Fighting at the village of Fleury ocntimies." OPINIONS ON THE OFFENSIVE PINNING THE ENEMY TO THE WEST. (United Service.) (Rec-August 19, 5;5 p.m.) London, August 18. Pans military critics are satisfied with recent events on the Somme. It is hoped that tho encirclemont of Guillemont and Maurepas will soon ho effeoted, obviating costly village fighting. Tho recent heavy German coun-ter-attacks delight tiro military authorities, who declare that the Germans are sustaining losses infinitely heavior than ours, necessitating ceaseless calls upon drafts. The offensive may not break the lino, but it will havo tho important effect of tying the main enemy forces tightly to France. BALANCE SWINGING OVER TO THE ALLIES. Australian-New Zealand Gable Association. (Rec. August 20, 5.5 p.m.) t ir> 7 /tt i r, l rr, London, August 19: ..Lord Derby (Under-Secretary of State for War), in a speech at Southport, told his audienco that it could take it from him that high military authorities were absolutely satisfied with the way in which the offensive was going. There was not the least doubt that the war was turning gradually in our favour, but we must not bo impatient. We would "not find old political parties antagonistic after the war, but a Central Party, with business to do, and determined to erect greater industries than ever. HONOUR FOR SIR DOUGLAS HAIG. * , (Rec. August 19, 7.5 p.m.) r.- -tv , tt ■ -i i. t , London, August 18. Sir Douglas Haig ha s been decorated with tho Grand Cross of tho Victorian Order (G.C.V.0.). A DESTRUCTIVE AIR RAID. (Rcc. August 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 19. Official. —"Our naval aeroplanes dropped 48 bombs from a height of three thousand feet on the ammunition dumps at Lichterfeldo. Largo fires were observed. The machines returned safely." > THE AIR ATTACK ON NAMUR, (Rcc. August 20, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 19. In the recent big air raid by tho Allies' airmen over Namur, the bombs exploded in the Citadel, killing 150 Gorman soldiers, and also set fire to soveral military buildings, and damaged the railway stations at Namur and Mons.