BRITISH STROKE ON THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2892, 3 October 1916, Page 7

BRITISH STROKE ON THE SOMME

. EAUCQURT L'ABBAYE CARRIED

; THE BAITING OF THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR CHAOTIC GREECE . , . ANGRY . CROWDS AT THE KING'S RUSSIANS AGAIN" ADVANCE , Once again tho British on tho Somrao have struck, and struct ■ : . wiccessfuUy, achieving, their objective.- The British Centre, hurled at Eaucourt L'Abbaye, captured, that village, and at some points the line was pushed onward and eastward. The German Press theories of our recent successes mike most amusing reading. The latest is that the Allies are "over-munitioned," and are spending their shell capital in wasteful bursts of profligate extravagance 1 Tho French line on the Sommo is making stoady progress. Mr. J-. L. • Garvin, in tho "Observer," prediots great happenings soon. In the Balkans, the British have brilliantly wrested several 1 important posi- ■ tionsf rom the Bulgars. Tho ohaotio condition of Greece oontinnes to develop in tho direction of a popular revulsion against tho King. ( Crowds have made demonstrations at tho Palace, demanding war. In the Dobruja the enemy is being hard pressed. The enemy's success at Hermannstadt has not beeen so great as the German official communique would have us believe, and to-day's communique from Buoharest throws some additional light on the battle. Tho Rus- , sians are Hurling strong attacks along the line of the Brody-Lem-berg railway* ANOTHER SPLENDID ADVANCE ON • the somme . CAPTURE OF EAUCOURT L'ABBAYE WHOLE OBJECTIVE OF ATTACK ACHIEVED : (By Telegraph—Frew Association— I 1 Austrftiian-Nerr Zealand Cable Association. , London, October 1. Goneral Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Wei progressed during the night between Hers and Le Sars, Sixteen successful raids were 'made between Ypres and Neuve Chapel!©. Heavy shelling is in progress round Gueudecourt. We drove the Germans out of ground which we are holding near the Stuff Radouht, and increased our gains at tie Schwaben Redoubt, a minute portion of which remains untaken. "A oaptoed army order, dated September 21, emphasises the importance of Lesboeufs, which it described as 'the last protection of our artillery, which must in no oiroumstances be lost.' .We captured Lesboeufs a few: days later. (Rec. October 2, 7.35 p.m.) <• •• London, October 1. fair Douglas Haig reports: "South of the Ancre we advanced over three -thousand yards from east of Baucourt L'Abbaye to the Albert-Ba-paume Road, and north-east 'froin Destroment Farm. It is reported that the village of Eaucourt L'Abbayo is in our hands." i (Reo. October 2, 8.45 p.m.) ~ ' '. .. . , - London, October 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Our centre attacked and captured tho whole < objective from the ease of Eauoourt L'Abbaye to tho Albert-Bapaumo Road. Further east we pushed out well beyond tho. original front line, taking over three hundred prisoners. Our-casualties were small. Tho 'tanks' did valuablo work in clearing the trenches behind tho infantry advance. ' ''We hJow up an ammunition dump in the village of Transloy. ' Our aeroplanes bombed'two of the enemy's aerodromes and brought down four machines. 18, between the Anore and the Somme. we have captured twenty-four guns and six howitzers. From July 1 to September 30 we have taken prisoner 688 officers and 26,147 men." FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. 'a t.v i as •London, October I. A French official communnjue states: "The artillery is active .on the bommo front. Wo made progress with gronados south-east oO Morval, and qlong tho Somme south-east of Glory." J (Reo. October 2, 11.50 p.m.) it. m » rc . . ■ ' j Paris, October 2. A French officii eommtiiuaue states: "TJie W lave been minor successful SandK ' reß,lltij, S k «"» capture of trenches at RaJJ. Our artillery barrage stopped two attomptod coups-de-main south of Butte du Mesml, and another ew>l of Tahwro (in Champagne)" GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. September 2, 3.20 p.m.) A German official communique states- "We 1, J , hand fighting, strong attacks by tho Britisli at Thiepval.'° hand-'to- • i ENEMY ACCUSES lIS OF WASTING SHELLS. j (Reo. Ootober 2, 7.35 p.m.) ' The "Tageblatt's" correspondent, cDmrnontin^n^if 3 '''?: P,°. i;o ' )er ISoinmc, ,says: "The Allies are over-nuuihiioned^anij 1 •ff i" 8 cn t- ' le of money. The enemy empties all his pookots to find , °'™ * i J n y. wastn misery. Each shell means a-great hope. Tt i K „„ o , l !'® "f his Tvar give on hoth Bides represents the bloodiest war episode of all rimes "° ° ffetl " THE SLAUGHTER, AT COMBLES. Three thousand' corpses were found at Combles. i' j more,than a week. A German document shows tliat between September 26 seventy-two battalions participated in the defence Tl, + thrilling moment was when the British and French fSI j most ° th6r entbusiasm ' and tte continued f!ghtiiig an harder GREAT THINGS MAY HAPPEN SOON Mr. J. L.' Garvin (editor.of tho "Observer") says thaw'Jkat'"thines T »ro likely even before the winter arrives. A glance at the map shows that if i wedge is cut twenty miles further eastward of the Bapaume-Peronno road if will endangor communications vital even for a large part of the front Ho thinks the enemy is alivo to the danger, and is already preparing a retirement: therefore a sudden debacle is unlikely. Mr, Garvin etnrotq st; r Douglas Haig and General Joffre will, before the end of tho year deal more staggering blows than any yet made. . ' al 0 ?- e i err ,i" g to v , on - Hindenburg, Mr. Garvin states that ho has underrated the dithculties and is unable to undertake a great advance against the R,us sians:. Therefore he is concentrating to smash Rumania and hold the line from the Baltio to the Black feea, when he will return West before tho Frmrli and British have time to deliver the. knock-out.

GERMANS EXPLAIN THEIR REVERSES. Amsterdam, October I. Tho_ latest explanation of tho Somme reverses is that tho British and Frenoh infantry are worthless, but, thanks to the overwhelming artillery, they are soilietimes enabled to rush fortified positions which havo been reduced to ruins. Thus Herr Georg Queri, tho "Tageblatt's" military critic, says: "Infantry fighting is no longermau against man, but man against cripples, wounded, and dead. A trench is rushed only when it has been blown to dust. This is the enemy's confession that his infantry is of poor quality." Georg Queri overlooks tho fifty thousand unwouudcd prisoners taken at tie Soinme, and forgets the eulogies officially bestowed on the German General Staff for sparing tho infantry at Verdun by mcajis of artillery preparation. "FOUR WATERLOOS IN PIC ARM." ' London, October 1. General Sir O'Mooro C'roagh (who was Commander-in-Chief in. India, 1909-14), in an article in tho "weekly Dispatch," says that four Waterloos would be easily swallowed up in the battles in Picardy. He calculates that 800,000 Germans are striving to hold tho Allied advance towards Bapaume and Peromie. General Oreagh adds that he would not ,bo surprised, totalling both sides, if one and a half million men and ten thousand guns woro engaged in the Somme battle, not counting the many thousands oE men carrying on the subsidiary services in the rear. GERMAN CHANCELLOR ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION <- • - THE AGITATION FOE UNRESTRAINED PIRACY,(Rec. October 2, 7.35 p.m.) ; . Amsterdam, Ootober 1. At a. meeting of the Reichstag Budget Committee, Herr Bassermann urged Herr vori Bethmann-Hollweg xo supply further information on the military "situation,_ and explain moro precisely Lis views concerning moro merciless warfare against England. . ' ' '' 1 ' Herr von Bethinann-Hollweg declared his readiness to- j;ive the Reichstag fuller information in camera. ("The Times.") (Rec. September 2, 5.5 p.m.) ' London, October 1. The "Times" correspondent at Am ster dam states: "Herr von BethmajinHollweg's declaration in the'Reichsta" regarding tho question of submarine attacks has not appeased his advers arles > w "° think-it time to reverse his policy." f- 4. ' ■ Herr Ballin ..angrily repudiated tint,? at ®? en f' that the private interests of tho Hamburg-Amerika Lino, and 0,.,„j ™PPf r s had been allowed to influence tho Government's policy. He reft?- expre ® s h> s final judgment as tbi the best means to reduce l&gla.nd,t,- s ; c °nfession of patriotic disinterestedness is oonsidered to be mos Jacftnr '- ; BRILLIANT SCORE IN THE BALKANS ; VILLAGES CARRIED BY THE BRITISH CONSTANTINE AND HIS SUBJECTS. The High Commissioner -reports, : , London, October 1, 8.20 p.m. The British oflioial report'from Salonika states: "Below Orliak Bridge, on t]ie Struma, wo took possession of portion of tho Bulgarian lines, These gains Wore extended later, following stubborn fighting. We repulsed six counter-at-tacks. ' One hundred prisoners havo already been taken. Fighting continues." London, October 2. A French offioial report states: "On the eastern or left bank of the Struma the British troops carried by a brilliant assault two fortified villages near the Seres road." THE BULGAR ATTACK ON IfAIMAKCHALAN £"The Times.") ' t . . ' London, October 1. Sir. Calvert; "The Times'" correspondent in the Balkans, states that he witnessed the attempt to recapture .Mount Kaimakchalan. The commander lid not use artillery, but attacked at night with troops well primed with raw spirits. An impetuous rush carried the first line and . wiped out the occupants. The remaining Serbians held firm, and mowed down the intoxicated Bulgars. The first wave reached the trenohes, and after three hours of the'most horrible ighting the trenches were taken. The Serbs, howover, finally won. Sunrise •evealed a scene of bestial and savage slaughter. The ground between the irst and second lines was covered with oorpses. It' was impossible to step ■vithout trampling upon them. A thousand Serbs and two thousand Bulgars vere killed. The wounded Serbian officers were massacred by the Bulgars. ' STRONG POSITIONS CARRIED BY THE SERBIANS / Australian-New Zealand Oablo Association. * (R-eo. Ootober 2, 11.50 p.m.) T , ' - , . October 2. ; A Drench official communique states: "Tho Serbians attacked a height n the region of Kaimakchalam, which was strongly held by the Bulgarians I'lio were forced to abandon the position." ° ' THE WAR IN TRANSYLVANIA RUMANIAN COUNTER-OFFENSIVE - , . ' ' London, Octobor I. A berman official communique states: "Our troops fought with tho great. isfc bitterness, after it became knowai that the Rumanians had- murdered the lefenceless wounded." / The "Observer" interprets tho German allegations of Rumanian-outrages 13 a sinister warning of a coming massacre of Rumanians. ° "As the result of the battle at Hennannstadt, we took over 8000 prisoners aid much material. The Thurm Pass is filled with vehiclos which woro ■ deitroyed by the enemy's own firo. Further Rumanian attacks failed." FALKENHAYN COMMANDING IN HERMANNSTADT. ffieutor's Tclecram.) Amsterdam, October 1. General voii Falkeiuiayn commands the Austrian and German forces in ,lie Hermannstadt district. 1 General von Hindenburg is now in tho Dobruja conferring with von Mac- . tensen. . LONDON PRESS SCEPTICAL ABOUT THE "VICTORY." 'Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. . , London, Octobor 1. The newspapers are sceptics.! as to tlio oxtoiit of Germany's success at' Iqrinannstadt. Falkenhayn's presence in command suggests that a big offen;iv'e is afoot.. His Court influence is still great, which explains in souio neasuro tho emphasis laid on tho alleged victory. AUSTRIAN I OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Eeuter's Tn!o«ram.) . London, October I. 'An Austrian official comuvuniquo states: "After tho battle at Hermann-' itadt, the Rumanians resumed the offousivo. They did not affect the result, mt the Austrians north of Fogras wero. compelled to retire. An . Austrian lotilla raided tho Rumanian port of Corabia, and destroyed the station, tho larbour, and shipping." , " FRIGHTFULNESS " IN RUMANIA DREADFUL STORY OF HUN'NISH ATROCITIES. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, October 1. Tho "Daily ChrontoleV' correspondent at Bucharest states that it is more ban probable that wlien all the horrors by the Bulgarians and Jermaus at Turtukai are confirmed they rival anything yet recorded. ?he Balkan warfare was a competition between two 'allies to see which could llflict the most torture. The Germans, as usual, did things systematically, mtting tho Rumanian* prisoners in batches and shooting them in the market ilaces or squares. Tho regular massacre of the Rumanian civil population was irgauised by tho Bulgarian soldiery. Aided by tho Bulgarian inhabitants they vent from street to street killing, maiming, and torturing. Some who escaped ay that among tho Bulgarians who participated were well-dressed women and 'ouug men in light suits. The women incited children to share in the •evel. _ Knives and hatchets were employed, and women even used their teeth. [boro is in a, Bucharest hospital to-day a raving lunatic, a lady of good Riinanian family, wife of a judge. Hearing that the Rumanians were being nassacred, she rushed to the tribunal to save her husband, but arrived Just in ,ime to seei a, hatchet descend on his head and cleave his body in halves. jome Rumanian officers, who found her, recognised her, and brought her to 3ucharest. During the provious fighting Bulgarian women and children fol-' owed the liues, stabbing and torturing the wounded. Corpses wore found vitli twenty and thirty cuts. Dozens of Rumanian soldiers in hospital wero ;ortured similarly after receiving wounds on the battlefield. Moro than one vas shot in the back. They declare that many womon wero armed with rifles. V Strict inquiry is proceeding, and tho official report will be addressed to tho Ulies and neutrals. ENEMY HARD PRESSED IN THE DOBRUJA . _ Bucharest, October !• The Russo-Rumanian pressure in the Pobruja has not been relaxed. The aieray's losses aro serious. One Rumanian battery of artillery is mentioned ji tho orders of the day as wrecking six of tho enemy's guns.

GERMAN" AIR ATTACKS ON BUCHAREST. , • Bucharest, OofcoFer 1. //eppelin and aeroplane attacks on Bucharest continue daily. A nuinbe/ or Boy fccouts have been killed, and' tho Hungarian Ghurclx was partly destroyed. • GERMAN NEWSPAPER. AT SOFIA. . ~ Amsterdam, October I. _ A German daily newspaper will shortly bfi established at Sofia (the Bulgarian capital). THE GREEK CRISIS DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE THE KING'S PALACE Australittn-Kew He-aland Cable Association. . . . Rome, October 1. The Greek cruiser Giorgios Akeroff has. arrived at Salonika, aiicl bas been placed at tlio disposal of the Allies. ■ Crowds made a demonstration outside King Constantino's palace, and demanded war. SHAM GOVERNMENT EXPECTED TO RESIGN (Renter's Telegram.) (Rec. October 2, 5.5 p.m.)' .... Athens, October 1. The Greek bovormnenfc is still ignorant as jfco tlio Entente's intentions. It will probably resign on Monday. It seems that the Entente is determined k refrain from pressure with a viow to imposing any policy upon Greece, which should decide its own course. ' WHY THE KING HESITATED. AustraHan-NoiT Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. October 2, 5.5 p.m.) T ' v i -n. j, Rome, October 1. In an audience with the Pope, the Latin 'Archbishop of Athens expressed the opinion that, despite the King's efforts, Greece would soon be forccd to enter the war. . y Tho Pope said that he would deeply regret sucli an extension of the conflict. 1 It is reported that the prolongation of the King's hesitation is due to the fact that he heard that strong German forces, had been dispatched against Rumania. PRO-GERMAN LEAGUE ACTIVE. (Rcc. October 2, 5.45 p.m.) Athens! October I. ~ The Reservist League is renewing its aotivity, and has caused antiFenizelist disturbances at Nauplia and elsewhere. Its members have decided &at in the ovent of the issue of*a mobilisation decree, they will communicate ivith the King, and if they find that Hia Majesty 'has been eoorced, tliey will ofuse to join the colours. GERMAN SUBMARINE THREAT. (Rcc. October 2, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, October i. The newspaper ■ "Neahimora" (?) statos that the German Minister warned the Greek Government that German submarines would sink steamers conveying Greek volunteers to Salonika.