TERRIFIC ATTACK ON THE FRENCH FRONTS.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2883, 22 September 1916, Page 5

TERRIFIC ATTACK ON THE FRENCH FRONTS.

APPALLING SLAUGHTER IN THE GERMAN. RANKS ALL DAY BATTLE ON THREE MILES OP FRONT (By Telesranh—Press Association—Copyright). ' ■' . ■ ', (Router's Telezram.) ' N (Rec. September 21, 9.10 p.m.) . i ' . Paris,- September 21. 'A French official communique itates:—"North of the Somme the Germans made a great effort to recover their lost positions. The battle lasted from nine o'clock in the morning till nightfall. ' Successive waves .'of the enemy's masses were crushed by our machine-gun and artillery tiro, and sometimes with tho bayonet. ' The French retained the whole of the ground Tho Germans-attacked on a. front of five kilometres (three miles), from La Priez Farm to the south of L'Abbo Wood Farm. The attacking masses on each occasion were preceded by a furious cannonade. '. The French magnificently resisted'all. assaults, repulsed'the enemy by a cross-fire from their machine-guns and artillery, and everywhere maintained' their positions. The fighting ivas fiercest in the vicinity of La Priez Farm and- tho region of Bouchavesnes. Four waves of the assault in front of La Priez, Farm were successively broken by gun-fire, and' tho, enemy's'masses were seen to disintegrate ,in disorder behind the : ridge, " leaving the ground covered.with corpses,/ The Germans in the Bouchavesnes sector, after several sanguinary. defeats,, succeeded at one o'clock, in the afternoon in gaining a lodgment in the north-eastern part of the villago! but were driven out by the bayonet;by ,an irresistible , The enemy's losses everywhere were of the ■ ■ ■ , _ * OPERATIONS ON THE BRITISH FRONT SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT ' V Australian-New Zealand OaMe Association. x ' (Rec. September 21, 8.5 p.m.) \ i , ' ' London, September 21. Sir Douglas ■■Haigj report® heavy rain, with considerable hostile artillory activity Eoufliward of tho Ancre. _ HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports: • ' London, September 20, 3.50 p.m. ;Tho British official report says: "The'general situation south of the Ancre is unohanged. Determined counter-attacks by the enemy were repulsed. A minor enterprise at Arras was successful. , "Captured German documents signed 'Falkonhayn' say that tlio wastage of guns in recont months has been considerable/ and exceeds production; the same applies to the ammunition reserves,,which are seriously diminished.. Ho urges conservation, otherwise tEe replacing of losses and tho placing of new formations will be impossible." REVEALED IN CAPTURED DOCUMENTS Australian-New Zealand Oable Association. ' (Rec. 1 September 21, 10.25' p.m.) . Paris, September 21. A confidential document which has been found on a Somme prisoner, and signed by the Chief of Staff of the Third German Anny_ on September 14, states: '"It is certain that tho Allies will make more formidable attacks. The prcsfcnt fighting is only a prelude to more important operations, and it is therefore essential that all troops should remain ,at any cost to the last man rather tl\an concede ground. Officers unable to obtain a promise from thoir men will be court-martialled." An offioial paper which was found on a Gorman maior. who was taken prisoner, refers to the "tanks." It says: "Theso are new engines. Their cruelty equals their efficiency. Steps must be taken to combat 'the monsters." GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. r London, Soplembcr 20. A German official communique states: "Wo drovo tho French from a small portion of tho trench which they retained on tho west slopes of Morfc Homme." UERMANS FEAR ATTACK FJIOM NEW QUARTER. (Rcc. September 21, 5.10 p.m.) Amsterdam, September 20. The Dutch newspaper "Tolcgraaf" states that tho Germans hurried troops and artillery to tho Dutch frontier last weok, apprehensive of a- British attack across the Schcldt. ( c TACTICAE IMPORTANCE OF RECENT CAPTURES. London, Soptember 20. Correspondents at headquarters emphasiso tho importance of the possession of tho forward slope of the high ground between the Ancre and the Combles Valley. It gives tho artillery a dominating position which will enable if!, ceaselessly to pound tho Germans, find to inflict, heavy losses and provent them making habitablo trenches. The cuptnro of the very strong "Quadrilateral" trench greatly strengthened tlio British position between Giuehy and Guillemont. Tho fighting horo occurred in a deluge ol' rain. The ground was a perfeot morass. Many of the onemy maohino-gunnors and snipors had to desert their lairs to esoapo drowning.