GREAT COUP ON THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2868, 5 September 1916, Page 5

GREAT COUP ON THE SOMME

FRANCO-BRITISH ATTACK NORTH OF MAUREPAS CAPTURE OF CLERY, GUILLEMONT, AND EXTENSIVE TRENCH GROUND The High Commissioner reports: ' ~ . ' London. September 4, 2.20 a.m. A French official report states: "After an intense artillery preparation, the French infantry, in oinjunction with tho British, attacked tho German,, positions on a front- of six kilometres (3 3-5 miles), northwards of the Maurepas River, swept back the enemy, and captured tho objectives. Tho village and forest of Olery-sur-Sommo are entirely ours. South of tho forest we captured all tho German trenches along tho road to tho forest of Combles, and captured all tho German positions to the borders of Combles. Great Gorman counter-attacks on the conquered positions were raked by our Latteries, the enemy retiring in disorder, and! leaving many dead. Two thousand unwounded prisoners, 12 guns, and 50 mitrailleuses were captured by ns." ' London, September 4, 3.10 .'a.m. Tho British official leport says: "In co-operation with the French, wo attacked at several points, and captured part of Ginchy and the whole of Guilleniont. East of Mouquet Farm wo gained ground and captured several hundred prisoners.' Fighting continues. The enemy's aeroplanes made desperate attempts to interfere, but were driven off." Sill DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—<Vr.yrighi). Australlan-N<iw Zealand Cable Association. London, September 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "The night generally was quiet,' but there was -fighting in the morning nedr Mouquet Farm, southward of Thiepval, on the . banks'ofithe Ancre, and at Faifemont Farm upon our right. Wo gained ground in these operations." ' (R-ec. September 4, 10.15 p.m.) London, September 4. Sir DoiHas Haig reports: —"Our new front runs, five hundred yards east of Guillemont, from Ginchy to near Fallemou Farm. Wo also pained ground east of Mouquet Farm. Our aircraft did most useful work in cooperatin<r with tho artillery and infantry. Tho enemy's aeroplanes desperately attempted to interfere. Wo successfully engaged them in many fights, destroying three machines, and damaging at least four. We lost three." A TERRIFIC ATTACK BY THE GERMANS Oleuter'o Telegram.) . • , .. Paris, September 3. Tho German counter-attacks oi, Thursday night in the neighbourhood of Belville Wood iras' the fiercest tho enemy has yet dclivorcd. Picked troops were employed, and the desperate oharacter of the assaults suggests that tho Germans attached tho utmost importance to success at this spot'. The trenches in which a footing was ultimately effected were so battered that they did not afford any shelter. The attack was probably meant to signaliso Von Hindonburg'si promotion, but if tho total casualties are published in Gormany they will assuredly produce blank dismay. FRENCH SUCCESS ON THE VERDUN FRONT Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, September 4, 2.25 a.m. Tho High Commissioner reports:— "Violent attacks on our 'positions at Vaux Chapitre were repulsed frequently on our whole front. The enemy losses i woro very heavy. They succeeded in gaming a footing in a salient of our line, after a bitter combat. We attacked their positions cast of Floury, and carried many trenches and a powerfully organised work on part of the ridge from | Floury to'Thiaumont, taking 300 prisoners, including five officers." FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE Paris,. September 3. A French official communique states: "By a coup do main we took prisoners from the German trenches at Armancourt. The Germans are violently bombarding our positions at Thiaumont and Fleury. We bombed tho railway station at Metz-Sablons. Our machines in two visits dropped 86 bombs anil 60 bombs on tho military depots north ward of Metz railway stations, and at Maiziere-les-Motz, Cbnflans, Sedan, and tho Audun-lc-Roman_. barracks, and depots at Ham, Ncsle, Guiscard, Athis, and Monchy-In-Gache'2lo bombs wero dropped." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. September 4, 6.35 p.m.) London, September 3. AGerman official communique states: "Tho artillery activity on the Sornnio is increasing, in violence. A strong French attack botweoh Manrepas and Olery collapsed. Attacks on tho Thiaumont front were repulsed."