LATE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2877, 15 September 1916, Page 5

LATE NEWS

GERMAN SUPPLY LINE SEVERED FRUITS OF BRILLIANT ' FRENCH ATTACK Australian-Now Zealand Oable Association. (Ree. September 15, 0.25 a.m.) Paris, September 14. The French attacks on Tuesday wore tlio most brilliant they havo yet achieved on tho Somme. For tho first time since trench warfare was firmly established in tho West, the Allies have pierced the German line. It has taken two and a- half months. The artillery was terribly effective.- The German trenches are all down, and the defenders are mostly buried. Isolated groups of Boches remained in some of the dugjouts, but a dozen bombs settled the mattor.

The first assault began at 12.30 p.m., and within half an hour the whole or the first line had been stormed on a front of fivo miles. The infantry re--, sumed the attack at 1.15 p.m., and gained tho summit of Hi 11.145, overlooking the plain as far as Bapaume. The (ientro of the attacking column encountered a furious resistance at Marriercs Wood, and desperate hand-to-hand fighting raged for three hours. General Fayolle's infantry made a supreme eifort at 4.30 p.m., cleared tho wood, and pushed tho Germans east of tho Peronno Road. Another strong body of Germans as far as Hill 145 were ambushed behind -tho ruins of a •windmill, and kept up an infernal fire with their machine-guns. Taken in. utuiki they were forced to retire, till dark, when the victorious poilus, pressing on* ward, carried the village of Bouchaveflnes, on the Bapaume Road, where they were not attacked during the night, 'i'hey consolidated their position and made i further advance eastward in tho morning. The Allies aro now firmly established two miles along the m:\in. road from Peronno to Bapaume, cutting one. of tho principal lines' of the German communications, thus forcing the enemy to uso tho Paris-Lille Road, three miles further back. Most of tho positions ■which wore taken on Tuesday aro of relatively recent formation, less concroto being used in their construction than in those -which were taken in the first stages of the offensive.- The capture of Bouchavesnes endangers Mount St. Quentin, which is the Eoy to Peronne.

HERALDS OF FREEDOM

GOOD NEWS DROPPED IN ; BRUSSELS. Australian-New Zealand Cablo Association. . (Rcc. September 15, 0.25 a'.m.) Amsterdam, September 14. A British aeroplane flew over Brussels and dropped leaflets exhorting the citizens to havo courage: "You will soon be free." The authorities are angry at tho anti-German demonstrations -which followed the aerial visit, and punished all inhabitants by ordering them to remain, indoors after seven o'clock.

GREEK CABINET CRISIS

POLITICAL SITUATION OBSCURE Australian-New Zealand Cable Afsoclation. (licc. September 15, 0.30 a.m.) London, September 14. The Greek political situation remains obscure. The latest messages show that all the efforts of the Ministers to induce M. Zaiinis to continue in office failed. He pleads poor health. King Constantino has; ask&d'M. Dknitrakopoulos to form a. Cabinet, and he has announced his willingness to attempt it. , M. Diinitrakopoulos's policy is more in accord with that or M. Venizelos than his previous political record foreshadowed.

Creece Must Decide. The Paris "Journal" interviewed M. Dimitrakopoulos, who said: "I profoundly regret the detestable policy of neutrality for which the Gounaris and Skouloudis Cabinets were responsible. If I am not in accord with M. Venizolos concerning the opportuneness of Greek intervention at dates, I must recognise that . the basis of his policy is the only one responding to the interest) and sentiments of Hellenism. The territory of Greeco to-day is and her national soiil is depressed. Greece has lost the greater part of her war material.; -This policy*: of temporisation cannot be particularly after the Italian inter.ven- : tion in the Balkans. I.deeply regret to see that Rumania has intervened without us. Greeco must either definitely enter the conflict on the side of. the Entente Powers or decide to remain neutral, whatever happens."

PIRATE SUBMARINES AGAIN BUSY

SEVEN NORWEGIAN VESSELS SUNK IN TWO DAYS Australian-New Zealand Oablo Association. (Rec. September 15, 0.25 a.m.) Amsterdam, September 14. German submarines have sunk seven Norwegian steamers in tho last two days. ■