THREE VILLAGES CAPTURES BY THE BRITISH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2879, 18 September 1916, Page 5

THREE VILLAGES CAPTURES BY THE BRITISH

' BRILLIANT ADVANCE ON THE SOMME NEW WAR WEAPON AT THE FRONT , (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). Australian-Kelt Zealand. Cable A«<oeia,tion. , London, September 15. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Last night we captured 1000 yards of trenches south-east of Thiepval. We attacked this morning on a six-mile front from the Bouleaux Wood fo northward of the Albert-Bapaumo road, and ■ advanced in some places from two to three thousand yards. We are using g, new .type of heavy .armoured car. Our captures south-east of Thiepval includo a strongly defended locality known as the 'Wunder Werk.' Our morning attack lias already obtained considerable successes. It continues to progress satisfactorily, and wa are taking prisoners in large numbers. During this attack we are utilising much air fighting. Our aeroplanes co-operated with the advancing artillery, flying at a close height, and firing upon the enemy troops. Wo successfully bombed three of the enemy's headquarters, and also the railway station at Bapaume, destroying a train, and damaging jnucli railway stock." "WE HOLD THE LIKE." (Rec. September 17,. 5.5 p.m.) I . ' I London, September 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "South of the Ancre there is no material change in the main battle front. Two local counter-attacks by the Germans Were beaten off. We hold the line wo gained yesterday. It runs five hundred .yards north of High Wood, and includes; the whole of the large villages of Con reel efcto, Martinpuich, and Tiers, each of thom fully twice tho size of Guilleniont. There bavo been many successful raids at various, points along tho front. Our air service has been working in constant and successful cooperation with the artillery and infantry, anrl made frequent and accurate reports during the course of tho battle. Hostile artillery and infantry were effectively engaged by -our aeroplanes, with machine-gun fire, wLilo many bombing attacks were made upon hostile aerodromes, railway stations, and troop, trains. Thirteen hostile aeroplanes were destroyed to-day, nino of these being brought down in a damaged condition. Four of ours are missing." LATEST COMMUNIQUE FROM THE BRITISH FRONT ' FURTHER PROGRESS SOUTH OF THE ANCRE. (floutcr's Teteeratn.) (Ree. September 17, 11.5 p.m.i London, September 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Wo continued our attacks southward of the [Ancre in certain localities, and made further progress. We have advanced since Friday a depth of from one to two miles on a sis-mile front.. Seventeen hundred prisoners were taken to-day, of which fifty-ono were officers.' Our total captures in the last two days' fighting were over 4000, of which 116 were officers!; six guns, and upwards of 50 machine-guns. We have taken or destroyed much material, and captured two additional German aeroplanes. Two additional British machines.are missing." HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT The High Commissioner reports:— ' London, September 16, 0.10 a.m. A British official report states: "In to-day's severe fighting wo captured practically all the high ground between Comhlcs and the Pozieres-Bapaume road, Bouleaux Wood, Flers, High Wood, Martinpuich, and Courcelette. Over two thousand three hundred prisoners were taken, including 65 officers." ENEMY'S THIRD LINE BROKEN Australian-New KeaUnd Onhlo Association, London, September lu. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at British Headquarters' states that to-day the British, by a great assault, liroko through the oiieiny's third lino, ft is reported that Flers has been captured, and the infantry are advancing in the' direction of Morvaj. Our lol't in now in the outskirts of Martinpuich. Thence towards the right we have advanced the whole lino, encircling the High Wood and occupying tho main part of the Bouleaux Wood. Tho men arc filled with the spirit of victory. In several parts the enemy \ is fleeing back to his next lino of trenches. Prisoners arc coming in fast, »nd five hundred have already arrived. WORKING ROUND COMBLES. New York, September 15. The British have smashed the Gcrnun third lino and captured Flers, a jnilo and a half north-we&t of Cinchy. They also captured the Bouloaui .Woods, and aro advancing against Morva.l, threatening to surround Combles.

i GREAT EXCITEMENT IN LONDON STORY OF A BRILLIANT ASSAULT A NEW TERROR, FOR THE GERMANS. (Rec. September. 17, 5.5 p.m.) London, September IG. Sir Douglas Haig's dispatches yesterday were amongst the most brilliant of the war. The newspapers displayed in big head lines: SWEEPING BRITISH ADVANCES. GERMANS ON THE RUN. The capture of '2300 prisoners brings Hie total of .the British captures on the Somme to over 20,000. Sir Douglas Haig's bulletins, which say that tho situation on the Somnic is unchanged, invariably portend events of importance, and the public has not been disappointed. Everything was in readiness for a further advanco by Thursday night.' The attack was delivered at dawn, the result being an advance on six miles of front, enabling the ish to follow tho example of the French at Bouchavesnes, and smash through the third and last line of tlio enemy's position. Mysterious "Willies." Sir Douglas Haig's references to mysterious armoured cars, and aeroplanes swooping like falcons, pouring streams of bullets upon the German infantry, are a new and marvellous battle picture, and details were eagerlj awaited. It had been whispered in the army for several days that there had been developments in our armoured cars, which had rendered good service in Flanders early in tho war, and afterwards in Egypt. It was known that they had successfully passed their stage, and would be tested in tlie Somme offensive. Details of their construction are not known, but the soldiers call them "tanks," or, more humorously, "Willies. No vehiclo mounted on ordinary wheels could hope to -survive the shell-torn, roadless, trench-intersected wilderness. Moreover, those cars'must bo invulnerable to machine-gun fire. When the details arc published the public will bo m a 1 position to gauge tho feelings of the Gorman infantry, who, in tho uncertain liwht of tho dawn on Friday, saw an array of unearthly monsters advancing, cased in steel, spitting fire, crawling laboriously but ceaselessly over trenches, barbed-wire, and shell craters. It is understood that the cars arc really forts 911 wheels, their chief work being to locate tho German machinegunners. ' 1 AWFUL EFFECT OF THE BRITISH BOMBARDMENT (Rec. September 17, 11.55 p.m.) Paris, September 17. Military correspondents 011 the Somme describe the almost incredible effect of sovcnty-tnra hours' bombardment by tho British on tho German trenches. The wholo of the ground was churned up small. A splendidlyfortified' armoured' work opposite Coureeletto was completely razed, and no trace of it could be found wjien tho attacking infantry crossed the ploughed soil. The whole battle was most sanguinary. Tho enemy had massed largo forces at every point which was threatened, but although they had been enjoined to defend every inch to the last man they wore compelled to acknowledge a crushing defeat, and surrender: wholesale. THE KING'S CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARMY 1 . (Rec. September 17, 6.5 p.m.) London, September 16. The King has sent the following message to Sir Douglas Haig: "I congratulate you and my brave troops on tho brilliant success you have just ( achieved. I have nev.er doubted that complete victory will ultimately crown our efforts, and yesterday's splendid results havo confirmed this , view." WARM PRAISE FROM FRENCH CRITICS (Rec. September 17, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, September 16. French military critics are loud in their praise of the British success. They admit that their task was still harder than that of tho French. "The British," they say, "still ha.ve to faoo tho enemy's lines, whicli havo long been organised for defence; but the situation, has greatly improved since the great 'Berlingotz' trench was captured. The battle is bound to continue to be of the fiercest character. We aro too closo to Mont St. Quentin for the Germans' liking, while its massed artillery interferes with us. The capture of Morval will make the cscaje of the garrison at Combles impossible." WHAT THE GERMAN REPORTS SAY loss OF. VILLAGES ADMITTED. London,' September 15. A German official communique states: "An English attempt to encircle and capture the salient south of Thiepval failed. Strong and bravo French attacks, intended to break through our lines between Rancourt and tho Somme, failed heavily. The enemy has occupied Le Priez Farm. Attacks west of Belloy and south of Soyecourt failed. On the Verdun front, after bitter fighting all night, we ejected the enemy from tho trenchos wo lost wess of tho Souville saliont on Wednesday." E-eflJfvDd rvbl* \pfiocintion. (Rec. September 17, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, September 16. A German official communique states: "During the last few days Westende has been repeatedly bombarded from the sea. The battle on the Somme has been especially fierce. Twenty Anglo-French divisions assaulted between the Ancre and the Somme, and after hot lighting we were forced back through Courceletto, Martinpuich, .and Flers. We held Combles against strong British attacks. Six of the enemy's aeroplanes were brought down." SQUEALS FROM THE GERMAN PRESS, (Rec. Septembor 17, 5.5 p.m.) Rotterdam, September 16. The "IColnisclie Zeitung" plaintively grumbles at the Allies' system of alternating the British and French .attack, which gives them an opportunity of resting .their troops and bringing up reinforcements of men and ammunition. The military correspondent of tho "Frankfurter Zeitung" insists on tho importance of the innumerable Anglo-French captive balloons and aeroplanes which are directing tho Allies' artillery. Thoso mako the bringing up of our supplies difficult. This feeling of impotence in tho face of tho enemy's aerial activity is most exasperating. THIRTEEN TRAIN-LOADS OF GERMAN DEAD AND WOUNDED. ffieutor's Telecram.) Amsterdam, September 15. Tho Dutch newspaper "Telegranf" learns from tho frontier that on September 1-1, thirteen trains of dead mid wounded soldiers, and two carrying disabled guns from tho Somme, proceeded to Germany. TWO MILLION GERMANS IN FRANCE ENORMOUS RESERVES IN THE BRITISH LINE. . x New York, September 15. Tho "New York World's" correspondent 011 tho British front at tho Sommo cables that, despite, the steady advance, the British command docs not look for a quick termination of the war. The British aro determined to carry the war on to Gorman soil. Reinforcements for tho Somme aro literally thick from the battlefield to tho sea'. Referring to tho German concentration against the British, the correspondent states that Germany has two million troops in France, of which 700,000 are against the British. The Allied armies are making steady headway. Britain's array contains splendid material.' _ At least two million men could be thrown against tho Germans at one point without touching the reserves at Some. At the present rate of losses Great Britain could light through the next summer without new troops, but if the present means continue Germany by then will hare been driven out of France. / ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, Soptenibor 15. A French official communique states: "North of the Sommo last evening wo made a lively attack, and took by assault a group of trcnchcs southward of Rancourt, our advanced elements reaching tho outskirts of the_ village. The Germans renewed night attacks eastward of Clery, but suffered a bloody check elsewhere, with the heaviest losses, notably towards tho southern oxtremity of Ridge 76." FURTHER ADVANCES FORWARD (Ree. September 17, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, September 16. 'A Fronch official communique statos: "We-made progress northward of Le Priez Farm, securing; a system of trenches 'to a depth of 500 metres. Coupled with tho British operations this has materially advanced tho encirclement of Combles. Lively combats eastward of the Betliune road and north, ward of Bouchavosnes extended our positions, while two attacks on the Dcnie-court-Borny sector yielded "considerable gains!. .. . L L . "Ten of our aeroplanes, successfully bombed tho railway stations and railways at Tergni'er, Chauny, Gmscard, I'ont-a-Mousson, and others bombed tho barracks at St. Enay,'where sovoral fires wcro ;observe ( L We also bombed Rombach factory, and set firo to tho enemy s works at Uilliiigen and in tho Sanr Valley. Nine German aeroplanes were brought down 011 Friday, and six others we're forced to doscond after air combats. Our air squadrons earlv on Friday morning dropped 106 largo • sholls ( on tho enemy's military esta'blisbmpnts'at Pont S'Aveiger and Detheniville, causing largo fires, and aiso 174 large shells on Conflans and Jarny station." WHAT LE PRIEZ MEANT TO THE GERMANS . (Rec. September 17, 5.5 p.m.) Londoi), September 16. Tho difficulties tho attackers had to surmount wero tho defences at Priez Farm, which in addition to an underground system of defence consisted of sis succos6ivo linos of ontronchraonfcsj linked by communication bronchos, and

flanked by four redoubts, bristling with machine-guns. The Germans spent months in constructing this work, hoping to guard Comhles from a flank attack. Certain parts of it were intact aftor it had heen pounded by shells of all sizes for an entire week. General Fayolles's gallant troops, however, took the position in two hours. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. London, September 16, 1'i.15 p.m. The French official report states: "North of tlio Sommo wo consolidated our now positions, and repulsed a German attack cast of Clery, where 400 unbounded prisoners wero taken. During tho course of our actions yesterday 86 Gorman corpses wero found in. a single trench." COMPARATIVE CALM FOLLOWS THE STORM. (Bee. September 17, 11.5 p.m.) Paris, September 17. A French official communique states: "It has been comparatively quiet. We have made progress northwards of Bouchavesncs,, and captured trenches north-eastward of Berny. A counter-attack between Belloy and Barloux collapsed under our machtno-guns. Our air squadrons bombed the blast furnaces at Utkingen and llombach, the works at Mondelingen, the railways southward of Metz, and tho railway stations at Bensdorf, Spincourt, and Longuyon." STRIKING ADMISSION BY GER'MAN NEWSPAPERS. (Router's Telegram.) Amsterdam, September 15. A somi-olficial,announcement in the "North German Gazette" makes the striking admission that by the occupation of Bouchavesnos the_ French gained an advantage which cannot be denied. Only their great superiority in numbers and an unprecedented expenditure of ammunition induced the German commander to withdraw at this point to a position in the rear, which is perhaps more advantageous.