SHARP BATTLE ON THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2867, 4 September 1916, Page 7

SHARP BATTLE ON THE SOMME

GERMAN ATTACH ON HIGH WOOD j TERRIBLE HAVOC BY THE BRITISH GUNS I London, September !. • . i General Sir Douglas Haig reports: ''The. attacks on the Ginehy-High Wood ,| front, three thousand yards long, were • preceded by intense bombardment. ' ' i The front was attacked alsoon both sides. We engaged the batteries east of Beaumont; and caused a big explosion.' We liberated gas in the Ypres sa-. ] lient with good results." (Rec. September. 2, 7.30 p.m.) ,'■! X . . London, September 2. i ' Sir Douglas Haig ireports: "Further details of Thursday's German attack ( ; on High Wood indicate that the Germ an casualties were most severe. , They j were subjected everywhere to a fusillade, and also to the concentrated fire of ; our trench'mortars and massed-machine-guns. Our artillery in several places j profited to the fullest by the' excellence of the targets. . There was great J aerial activity yesterday, and many combats, in which five of the enemy's ; j machines were destroyed, and at least brought down and dam- j aged. W© undertook several successful bombing expeditions. Five British -j aeroplanes were lost." : - •

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports: — London, September 1, 4.40 p.m. The British official report says :• "Subsequent to yesterday's attack at High Wood, the enemy mado five further counter-attacks on a 3000 yards front, from Ginchy to'High'Wood; preceded by'.'all'"intense bombar&nent. In ' four attacks the enemy, with considerable forces, was defeated with heavy losses. In the fifth attack he succeeded in penetrating, the advance trench on a small frontage at two points." , • ( London, September 2, 2.56 p.m. -;•! A British official report says: "We drove the enemy out of the portion of ,"] the small area which he recaptured on Thursday, north-west of Delvill# ' ] Wood." * ■ | GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. j • • . • (R«c. September 2, 6.6 p.m.) . London, September 1. 'A German official communique states:—"We have regained the : ground ; we lost'at Longueval and Delville Wood. Saxon counter-attacks on- fthe Ea-trees-Soyecourt sector drove back tho enemy's attacks on-'-the adjacent sectors." ■ '! OPERATIONS ON THE FRENCH FRONT j Paris, Septembor 1. f ••.] A French official communique Btates: "Our aviators are active in spits .( of mist and clouds, and brought down four Germans on the Somme front." j (Rec. September 2, 7.30 p.m.) .<< ■ i . i . ' Paris, September 1. < A French official communique states: "There were brisk artillery duels i on the Somme and Fleury sectors. Our special guns brought down two' aiero- j planes on the right bank of the Oise, and another near Douaumont.". , ; j ■ (Rec. September 3," 5.5 p.m.) " ■; : . Paris, September 2. j A French official communique states :.- "There is. considerable -artillery ac- ! tivity on the Somme front. Violent and repeated German attacks were, di- i rected against, the trenches we won on August 31. south of Estroes. The ; enemy reoccupied. some elements, but suffered marked losses. Our artillery \ • stopped attempted German attacks on the village of Floury and at Pont-a- ! Mousson." .j t HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. i •\' , . | The High.Commissioner reports:— j London, September 1, 3.55 p.m. ; '.; A French 'official report states: "On the Somme artillery fighting is'active 1 j in the regions of.Estrees and Soyecourt. Between the Oise and Aisne we made a coup-de-main at Nouvron, and took some prisoners. There have been . .{ abortive German attempts at' Croix-St. Jean and Bois-le-Pretre." j ENEMY DAMAGED, BUT NOT BROKEN (Rec. September 3, 5.5 p.m.) ; London, September 2. j The "Daily Telegraph's" Petrograd correspondent,.saysShuvafF, the ■ Minister for war, interviewed, said: "The enemy has been seriously dam- ; aged, but not finally broken. The Allies must increase, their munitions, and ! equipments, for a winter campaign is inevitable.' 1 \ MUST BE BROKEN BY INCONTESTABLY SUPERIOR FORCES. j (United Service.) • | (Rec. September 3) 7.45 p.m.) .—I London, September 2. I An article in the "Nation", states that official Germany asserts that the j Government mado two peace overtures. Each was rejected. • One included the 1 partition of Belgium. Germany must acknowledge defeat, Which she will not j do until incontcstably superior forces break her will. ;