FURIOUS BATTLES ON THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2869, 6 September 1916, Page 5

FURIOUS BATTLES ON THE SOMME

COSTLY COUNTER-ATTACKS BY THE GERMANS FURTHER IMPORTANT GAINS \ Tho High Commissioner reports:—• London, Septombor 4, 3.15 p.m. , A British official report states; —"Tho fighting yosterday between the Somme and tho Ancre was sovere and stubbornly "contested. Tho onemy's repeated counter-attacks were defeated wifcli' heavy lossos. We have captured their defences on a front of 3000 yards to a depth of 800 yards, including the strongly fortified village of Giiillemont, and took 800 prisoners. At Ginchy, a portion of which we tirs't captured, we wero compelled to givo ground) but retain hold of part of tho village, in spito of heavy counterattacks' during 'the night." . The French official report states:—"The enemy did not attempt a night attack to recapturo the positions conquered north of tho Somme. Fourteen cannon wore captured in tins area. Tho High Commissioner reports' . London, September 4, 11 .bo p.m. "This morning tho enemy counter-attacked oil our newly-won position nortli-wob't of > Moquct Farm, but wero easily repulsed. North of Fallc- ' mont Farm wo gained further ground. 1 Fighting still continues. I Sill DOUGLAS HAIG'S HE POUT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—<>ryright). Australian-Mew Zealand. Cable Association. (Rec. September 5, 8.5 p.m.) London, September 5. Sir Douglas Hnig reports: "The qnomy's counter-attack north-wostwaid of Moquet Farm was easily repulsod. Wo gained further ground northward of Fallemont Farm. .Heavy fighting on this section continues." ■ , FURTHER GAINS BY THE FRENCH.. (Rec. September 5, 8.5 p.m.) ' Paris, September 5. A French official communique states: —"Wo have mado further important gains, anjl took prisoner 2500 on Sunday and Monday, north of tho Sominc, and on Monday upwards of' 500 in tho Floury district." (Rec. September 5, 11.50 p.m.) V Paris, September 5. A French official communique states:. "AVe added another hundred yards to Sunday's gain eastward of Floury. The enemy made a powerful attack on our positions in Chengis Wood, and carried a small fort on the Vaux Road and tronches to the westward. A brilliant counter-attack enablod us to reoccupy tho whole of the ground. Upwards of live hundred nnwounded prisoners wero taken in tho Fleury district during Sunday and Monday." ( THE LATEST-BRILLIANT FORWARD MOVE SUBSTANTIAL GAINS BY FRANCO-BRITISH ATTACKS. ' ' . . (Rec. September 5, 11.55 p.m.) Paris, Soptember 5. A French official communique states: "Tho battle in which tho FrancoBritish troops are engaged on both sides of tho Somme continued all day with extreme fury. We made substantial progress eastward of La Forest, passed Hospital Farm, and occupied a hill wostward of Marrieres Wood. Violent counter-attacks wero mado on our new positions southward of Combles, but these were shattered by our machine guns and curtain lofi 'fire, ,'with very heavy losses to the onemy. All the conquered ground has been retained.. "The French troops attacked the enemy's organisations on a twenty kilometro (12 miles) front between Barlctix and southward of Chaulnes. On the Barleux-Deniecourt front wo -captured tho German first-line trenches and occupied the approaches to Bery and tho outskirts to'tho northward of Deniecourtl A brilliant assault northward and south-eastward of Soyecourt enabled us to capture it in its entirety. Further south, between Vermandvillers and Chilly, after a violent struggle the infantry carried four kilometres (2 2-5 miles) of the (y-st position of the former German comprising several strongly organisod lines of defence. The whole of the village of Chilly was' captured. Wo occupied Hill 86, to tho eastward, and also the western outskirts of Chaulnes Woods, while wo hold a portion of Vonnandvillcrs; and surround it to the north and south." '