CONSOLIDATING THEIR GAINS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2910, 24 October 1916, Page 5

CONSOLIDATING THEIR GAINS

ALLIES IN THE WEST KEPT BUSY —— \ FURIOUS ATTACKS BY THE GERMANS ' Australian-Ji'ciT Zealand Cablo Association. London, October 22. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Yesterday's attack was very successful, the -whole of our objectives being gained. We took 800 prisoners. Our casualties are believed to bo slight. The enemy did not attempt to retake tho captured ground." (Reuter's Tcl&scranU (Rec. October 23, 6.40 p.m.) London, October 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "1018 of tie enemy were taken prisonor yesterday between the Schwa-ben Redoubt and Le Sars. Tho oncray exploded two mines south of Ypres, and occupied tho lip of tho crater, where they ■were subjected to a. continuous bombardment. Our aeroplanes did valuable work in locating the enemy's batteries yesterday, and destroyed live- of the enemy's machines, and damaged four. Threo of oure are missing." ALL FRENCH GAINS MAINTAINED Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Paris, October 22. A' French official connuuniquo states: "All our gains on tho Somtne on Saturday have be'en maintained. A' violent attack on our hew positions in the vicinity of Chaulnes was repulsed with heavy losses. Our aeroplanes bombed the railway stations at St. Qucntiu, Terguier, Ham, Athies, and Comedies (east of Me,tz). (Router's Teltsffrn.ni.) (Rec. October 23, 6.40 p.m.) Paris, October 23. Official.—"South of tho Sommo a fresh, attack was made by tho enemy this afternoon against tho southern portion of Chaulnos Wood, but was repulsed with serious losses. Tho number of prisoners has not yet baon counted. This morning an attack in the samo region cost the Germans dearly. Wo surrounded tho enemy, who gained a foothold in ow first lines. Fivo hundred survivors w-oro taken prisoner. There is an intermittent cannonade, elsewhere."

■ GERMAN'OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. Australinn-Now Zealand Oablo Association. (Rec. October 23, 3.30 p.m.) ■ Amsterdam, October 22. A German official communique states: "Intense fire heralded tho .English attacks, which extended from Anine to Courcelotte and on both sides of Gueudecourt. The enemy gained ground at Grandcourt." A SOLID WEDGE. IN FRONT. OF SAILLISEL (Rec. October 23, 5.40 p.m.) London, October 22. Mr. Asliuioad. Bartlett, doseribingtho capturo of Sailly Saillisel, says: "It is a straggling twin village. The first has its houses in two long rows on either side of the Peronno-Baipaume high road. It is separated hy a kilometre of orchards from the second village of Saillisol, further eastward, which is still uncaptured. It rained incessantly throughout tho night, and the battlefield was a sea of mud, visibility for shooting bciug extremely low. Nevertheless tho French infantry leapt from their trenches punctually and carried the houses of Sailly Saillisel, and occupied tho slopes north-west and north-east of-the village. Tho captured country puts a solid wedge in front of Saillisel, and tho immense stretch of works connecting tho village with Boissant Vaast. The Biwiicb aro now able to crush counter-attacks through the orchards of Saillisel; "As the French infantry charged, tho sun shone out upon a superb spectacle. Tho French and English artillery thundered incessantlyih a hug© semicircle of smoke and flame. Our aeroplanes never lost their grip of the enemy's works. The infuriated German gunners opened up a tremendous barrage, but they, seemed to bo totally blinded, and continually shifted their aim in the hope of finding tho lurking place of the French reserves, without result. The Germans anticipated our attack, and brought the second Bavarian Division up to support the defenders of Sailly, but the" French woro able to seize the twin village fifteen minutes after the artillery had smashed it to pulp. The infantry had a terrible time of it in tho mud."

FURIOUS ATTACKS BY.THE GERMANS AT SAILLY (Rec. October 23, 11.30 p.m.)' , _ Paris, October 23. The cnoniy is not inclined to allow tho French to-hold their gains at ■ Sailly and the neighbouring heights. Throughout Friday night and Saturday they hurled thousands of shells at the French positions, and carao out of the Saint Pierre-Vaast Wood and their trenches south of Le Mesnil and attempted to rush the. Allies' line. They met a fearful fire, and the rush was broken. Tho Germans thrice returned to the attack, but were driven hack, leaving the ground covered with corpses. The Germans had some slight success at the northern edge of Blaise Wood. Here the attackers were preceded by men wearing asbestos clothes. They carried a new kind of grenade, which bursts'into flames when it strikes the ground. The corps which was following the asbestos attackers gained a footing in part of the advanced French trenches. During 'these attacks the Fronch successfully counter-attacked and advanced their front beyond tho Chaulnes-Ovillers railway.

GERMAN GUNNERS GROPING IN THE DARK. (Router's Telogram.) London, October 22. Router's correspondent at French Headquarters testifies 'to the utter blindness of the German artillery at Sailly-Saillisel, whereas the French artillery, assisted by the heavy British howitzers, helped by the airmen, co-oper-ated perfectly with the infantry. The Germans were only able to maintain a singularly ineffective. barrage of fire. Tho German gunners literally groped their way around the battlefield, dropping "heavies" at random, which had not the slightest effect in stopping tho arrival of French supplies. The stumbling efforts of the Germans to find the Franco-British batteries which are pounding the ground behind the German lines wero equally futile. They had a vague idea of their whereabouts, but were never able to get near. A typical example is mentioned: The Germans poured shells iuto Gombles, where thero was nothing, while not far away in another direction two batteries of British howitzers fired unmolested against registered targets.