BRITISH IMPROVE THEIR POSITION
CHEERING DISPATCHES FROM THE SOMME MOTOR DREADNOUGHTS IN ACTION (By Telccratih—Press Association—Copyright). Australian-NcTT Zealand Cable Association. London) September 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Weachieved further successes south of the Ancro, and extended our gains on Saturday evening on a front of a thousand yards in the vicinity of Courcelcttc. Wo obtained considerable success on Saturday evening in tlio neighbourhood of Thiepval, capturing a fortification known as tho Danube Trench, with a front of a mile. Tho Germans hero abandoned considerable quantities of rifles and equipment. Wo also captured tho strongly-defended work ofMouquot Farm, whose possession has been hotly contested for weeks. Tliero were a number of successful minor operations during the night on other parts of the front." FIERCE HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT IN THE OPEN. ffioutor's Telegram.) (ficc. September 18, 7.40 p.m.) London, September 18. Sir Douglas llaig reports: "Several heavy counter-attacks by tho enemy south of tho Ancre wero all repulsed. Tho enemy, advancing from Los Boeufs, north of Flers, was caught by our artillery barrago, with tho heavi-, est losses. One of tho enemy's brigades, advancing between Flers and Martinpuich to 1 attack lis in tho direction of High Wood, mot two of our battalions in the open. Hand-to-hand fighting ensued, in whioh we were completely successful; tho enemy being dispersed with heavy losses. We improved our position north of Mouquet Farm. Our artillery has been activc, and lias caused another conflagration in the enemy's ammunition dump at Grandccourt. Our aviators continue to successfully attack tho enemy's communications." THE FIGHT FOR THE THREE VILLAGES BRITISH DASH CARRIES THE DAY. Australian-Now Zealand Cable Association. * London, September .17. -The "Daily Ohroniclo's"; correspondent at Paris states that the British' advanco was tho most rapid in the direction of Flers. Tho now armoured cars, starting from Delvillo Wood, rained iron on the defenders. New units were ceaselessly tin/own into tho fight along tlio whole front. After taking tho first linos, the British found thomselveß in front of new defences, which were well armoured and strongly manned. It was only when the onemy becamo disheartened by their terrible losses and the' arrival of fresh troops that tho ground was abandoned in a stato of panic. Tho capture of Gnurcoletle wis one of the most brilliant feats. Tho contest had been proceeding since morning, and the result wan still uncertain, as the enemy was receiving strong reinforcements by the Albert-Bapaunio Road. The British columus attacked the village early in the afternoon: _ British and Bavarian troops fought in the streets with Browning automatic pistols, knives, and fists. The garrisou, being unablo to further resist the assailants' ftir.v, surrendered in despair. The fighting for Martinpuich was very hard. Tho commander, surrendering with a battalion, confessed thab it was impossible to withstand tho irresistible British push. "NEW JUGGERNAUT HAS MADE GOOD" ' New York, September 17. Mr. Frederick Palmer, who' is at British Heaquarters, telegraphs: "The fire-spouting car. like a prehistoric monster of strange shape, trundled across sholl craters and over t.reo stumps, cutting clown _ many small trees. There ! had been much speculation as to liowtho new device would work. When the 1 'tanks' returned the crews enthusiastically compared notes of their achievements. Some described the device as' a harvester mowing down everything in its path. A staff officer spoke of tho machine 'stopping to browso at the edge of a wood before advancing.' A hundred Prussians surrendered in a body to the crew of one machine." Mr. Palmer adds: "It is generally agreed thai the new juggernaut has made good." "GETTING WELL OUT INTO THE OPEN" London, September 17. The "Weekly Dispatch's" correspondent in Paris says that all France is reioioinc over the British 'victories. The newspapers' headlines declared: "Splendid British advance," "Magnificent Success on the Somme," "Allied Stock has Risen Several Points." The soldiers call the new armoured, cars "Trojan horses." The French eulogised the British policy of sacrificing anv amount, nf material rather than unnecessarily risk soldiers' lives. The advent of the cars i? hailed as the sien that the end of trench warfare is approaching. "Tho British aTo getting well into the open." IMPORTANT SUCCESSES ON THE FRENCH FRONT 'Renter'? Tclewm.i (Rec. September IS, 7.40 p.m.) Paris, September 18. A French official communique states: "North of the Somme our artillery actively bombarded the enemy's works. South of tho Somme we_ gained important successes. The villages of Vermandovillers and Berny, which had hitherto been partly occupied by us, wero conquered by a brilliant assault. Some bouses are still resisting capture. All the grqljnd between yeruiaudovillers and Deniccourt, and between Deniccourt arid Berny, wliich was defended by several systems of strongly-fortified trenches, fell into our hands after a desperate struggle. Fighting continues around Deniccourt. We captureda number of trenches between Berny and -Barleux. All the enemy s counter-attacks wore shattered by our fire, with heavy loss. Seven hundred unbounded prisoners have been counted."
DESTRUCTIVE AIR-RAIDS BY FRENCH SQUADRONS ' Auslralian-Now Zealand Cable Association. London, September 17. ' A French official communique slates: "Thoro has been only artillery action in tho Berny-Vermandovillers sectors. AVn dropped fifteen bombs on hangars at Hatsheim, 250 bombs on tho railway station and aerodrome at Tergnier, 32 on the railway station at Abbecourt, 72 on tho railway stations at Koisel, Epchy, and Athics, and on the railways at Ham and St. Quentin." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE London, September 17. A German official communique states: "All attacks northward of tho Somme were sanguinarily respnised. Fighting is still proceeding round stnall English positions near Courcelette and Flers and westward of Les Boeufs. Very definite attacks have developed south of the Somme, where ceaseless artillery fire is 2oing on." GERMAN GUARDS WITHDRAWN FROM DUTCH FRONTIER Amsterdam, September 17. The German guards havo been withdrawn from tho Dutch frontier. Belgian families aro streaming into Holland with their belongings: The Germans announce tlio cutting off of the electric current from tho wires on the Belgian-Dutch frontier for a fortnight. Tho reason is not given.
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2880, 19 September 1916, Page 5
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987BRITISH IMPROVE THEIR POSITION Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2880, 19 September 1916, Page 5
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