HOW THE ALLIES ENTERED COMBLES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2889, 29 September 1916, Page 5

HOW THE ALLIES ENTERED COMBLES

1 GERMANS TRAPPED BY THE' BARRAGE \ ' FRESH SUCCESSES ADDED ' The High! Commissioner reports:— *■ London, September 27, 11.55 a.m. 'A!. (British' official report states:' "During/the past forty-eight hours between three and four thousand prisoners Kave been captured. A new position was seoured during the. night and patrols and ( detachments passed forward in ma.ily places, keeping in touch with the enemy. We made progress ■during the night, particularly in the direction of Eaucourt I'Abbaye." \ SIR. DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT. (By Toleeranh—Press Association—Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Oabl® Association. . (Rec. September 28, 7.25 p.m.) London, September 27. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We successfully raided BeaumontHamel (north of t(he Ancre) and Loos, and; have brought down, nine, aeroplanes."' ' , . / • i London, September 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We have made excellent progress, and carried trenches on « front of 2000 yards northwards of Piers. These was fierce figihting north-east of Thiepval, where wo stormed and now hold the 'Stuff* Redoubt. Ten thousand prisoners havo beon'taken during the last fortnight." (Reo. September \|B, 10.35 p.m.) « . ' . London, September 28. "Northward of Flers we are now ,1 evel with' the east sido of Eaucourt I'Abbayo: The 'Stuff' Redoubt is on the main ridge, 2000 yards north-east of Triepval. "Upwards of 1800 rifles and many thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition and grenades were taken by us at Combles, where the Allies also made large captures of material. _ "We destroyed two aeroplanes and two kite balloons on Tuesday. Two of our'machines are missing. new- zealanders "again in action The following special dispatch has been received from the New Zealand official war correspondent (Mr. Malcolm Ross), dated September 25:— 'fie veteran brigade of the New Zealand Force had its chance in today's renewal of the offensive, which was commenced on September 15. .The men advanced as if on parade, on a front of 1800 yards, taking a line of treuches and- penetrating to a depth of 800 yards. Owing largely to the excellent work of the artillery tho enemy's resistance was not great, but the brigade killed and took prisoner a considerable number of Germans, and captured an important strong point north of Flers, known as "Factory Cornor." The casualties were slight. ' _ To-night tho brigade is digging in on a new lino. Up to the present the New Zealand troops have reached their objectives on every occasion, doing all they were'asked to do, and something more. BRILLIANT CAPTURE BY THE FRENCH ' ■ ' ■ \ j . The High Commissioner reports:— ' . . London, September 27, 3 p.m. i A French official report states that north of tho Somme we are organ- ' ising hew Tliere were no actions during the night. Yesterday evening a. brilliant' attack enabled us to' take a fortified; wood, east of Vermandovillers. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. .... Australian-New Zealand OaMe Association. / ' '(Rec. September 28, 7 p.m.) a . Paris, September 28. 'A' French! official communique state" : "The enemy strongly attacked our new positions from Bouchavesnes to tho southward 6f Bois l'Abbe Farm. The French, by a brilliant counter-offensive, threw back the assaulting waves in disorder, witE heavy losses. We made appreoiablo progress cast and southeast of Rancourt, and penetrated tho Saint Pierre Vaast Wood.'' THE BATTLE AND ITS RESULTS ' .. London, September 27. Correspondents at British ■ Headquarters l are of opinion the very' small cost of the great success was duo to tho excellence of tho artillery, and a. real collapse .of the. defence. Tho fighting of the German infantry on Tuesday was markedly weaker tlvan on Monday, and the enemy's artillery fire was spasmodic. Tho British and French attack failed nowhere, and several important points wore taken without any opposition being shown. The whining tone of the Gorman eonfiminique emphasises the impression of tho failure. . . In addition to the capture of Thicpval and Combles, the I< ranch m the South' reached the canal running north-east of the Somme along the Tortille Valley, coming into diiecfc touch with tho defence works at Moiifc.St. Quentin. Thus Mont BL. Quentin is receiving the treatment which was so successful at Combles, and the break across the Bapaume-Peronne road has been considerably, enlarged by British cavalry action beyond Gueudecourt. (Iteutcr'a Telewam.) London, September 27. - Router's correspondent at Headquarters sL-atos: Wo learned from prisoners that tho Germans proposed to evacuate Combles at night, so our artillery made an intense barrage of firo all night across tho line of retreat, to prevent the German withdrawal. Henco an enormous amount of booty was taken. A captured German officer said the officers could not get the men to fight; the men retort that tho ; officers wore shirking, and going to hospital on tho smallest pretext. Tho correspondent adds that, tho enemy is showing less and less stomach for tho fight, whilo the spirit of our men beggars description. ' THE ENEMY'S LOSS AT COMBLES. Australian-New Zealand Oflhlo Assooiatioii. Paris, September 27. -' .Fifteen Hundred, of the 'enemy dead were counted in the streets of 'CaiaMes. Hundreds of mournM Cteimans were extricated from ths oellaja

of the houses. The Germans left l.wo battalions in Fortified: .houses wjtlf orders to hold out to the leusfe. The British order .to avoid losses was carried out, and after a. big and fresh bombardment the enemy, could not continue the struggle. ' THE ENEMY'S MORALE IS "BREAKING" j (Ree. Sept.embor 28, 8.25 p.m.)' London, September 28. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: —"The worst thing that has happened 7o the enemy is the breaking of his morale. The enemy fought well, but he saw that if lie held on longer he must die, or bo takeu prisonor. As soon as our men swept across the trenches and the sunken roads, and entered the villages lie garrisons came from underground and surrendered in heaps. Thoy could have fought longer and harder, perhaps, but only with thoir backs against the ; walls, asking for death. They had noli the spirit to do that.. Thoy were \ done, dazed'by the appalling intensity of the shell fire, and disheartened by the unfailing regularity with which the British hare capturcd their strongholds since July. Thoir confidence and faith in the Gorman war machine has been destroyed. Thoy are stupefied in a grim way. We attaoked, reokless of loss. I saw twelve hundred' prisoners brought in, mostly Prussians, ■ and .many confessed that it was a great British victory. These men as a ■wliolo hare none of tho braggart confidence shown by the German prisoners a year ago-"-HOW THE GERMANS PUT IT London, September 27. 'A German official communique states: "We lost a projecting angle at Thiepval. The enemy has gained ground on both sides of CourceiQtta. Except that be is in ocoupation of.-Gnoudecourt, the enemy was unable to profit by his success on Monday. Wo repulsed attacks at Lesbjoeuftj and, from Morval fo Bouchavesnos. French attacks at Vermandovillers and Ohaulnes failed." —• i GERMAN PRESS ADMITS A "SERIOUS SITUATION." (Reo. September 28, 5.5 p-m.) , Geneva, September 28. Messages from Berlin, which" the Germaji censorship has apparently allowed to bo sent out to the Swiss newspapers, emphasise the seriousness of the military situation. One correspondent describes the' German people as being on the whole desirous of peace. "Every family in tho_ Empire has ojfered its blood in sacrifice, and there are very serious economio difficulties for those who have been spared. Intrigues are flourishing, and nervousness is displayed in many circles." ' ' ' / SHORTENING THE GERMAN LINE. ("He Himi.") (Reo. September 28,' 5.5 p.m.)' • - London, September 28. The "Frankfurter Zeiimug" aayst "Those mad attacks' (by the Allies on 'the Spmnte are full of unparalleled courage a.ud savaqpir. W,o are emdeavouring to keep the enemy back, and preserve the ela-stio and conneoted front. We have lost long-held positions and villages. Possibly mora important shortenings of the line on the West front aro contemplated in' the interests of alf-' the Ironte." ' / PENDING STORM IN THE REICHSTAG ft NO-CONFIDENCE MOT-lON.' ' ' *' 'Australian-New Zealaa'd Cable Association. New York, September 27. The United Press correspondent at Berlin states that the stormiest session of the Reichstag since' the beginning of the war is foreshadowed by 'members arriving for the opening session to-morrow. Dr. Corting,_the inr' dustrial leader, from Haiiover,. will move a vote of no-confidence in Herr vou Bethmaun-HoUweg (the German Imperial Chancellor). _ Tlie absence of the Socialist, Dr. Liebknecht, who was recently arrested, will not contribute towards calming the session. / Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg mil address the Reichstag at 3 p.m. The voting of war credits, and iflie future policy towards England l will bo the chief topics i for tlio three weeks' _ session. \ . ■• • 1 The Conservatifres profess to be highly pleased with 'the results of th?. recent Zeppelin raids, and intend to demand a more severe campaign against the English., ' . - - ELEVENTH-HOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CHANCELLOR, Berne, September 27. .A! message from Berliu states, that an eleventh-hour bargain has been struck between the Imperial Chancellor (Herr von Beifltmann-Hollwee) and the Socialist Party, who will jointly oppose the Junkers end the Tirpitz Party. , PARLOUS STATE OF THE ENEMY'S RESERVES ( . - , Rotterdam, September 27, . Germany has callcd up the unfit men of the 1870-1875 classes (41 audi-46 years old), and also the 1898 class (18 years old), for re-examination. The strain oh the German man power is reaching tihe breaking point. Railwaymen. liable for service have been ordered to jbe in readiness to joint the colours'. A large forco of civilians is ongagod on the frontier beWeen Belgium 'and Zeeland in cutting down trees and constructing trenches.