GAINS IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2922, 7 November 1916, Page 5

GAINS IN THE WEST

-4 FRANCO-BRITISH ATTACKS :\ ON THE SOME ADVANCE AT VERDUN 1 : . — ■ A GREEK SENSATION i ___ [~: COUNCIL SECRETS REVEALED ITALIAN BLOW STEADILY FOLLOWED UP ' DeSpite unfavourable weather conditions on the Western front, both the French and British lines have Been pushed forward as the result of fresh and effective blows, while tho French at Verdun have •occupied the villages of Damloup and Vaux. The Italians are pressing homo the a/Jvantage gained by their sudden and overwhelming stroke in the Carso, and the toll of prisoners has reached 9000. The enemios' armies on the northern and southorn Carso are said to have been divided l . Stubborn fighting is reported from the Rumanian theatre, and advances hy hoth sides are reported. A hint of the German strategy against Rumania suggests that the enemy's intention is,to shorten his battle line so that it runs vertically across Rumania from Constanza, in the south. The Germans are busily intriguing to separate Russia from the Entente group, by striving to create dissension and distrust amongst tho Allies. FRENCH ADVANCE AT VERDUN ' DAMLOUP VILLAGE OCCUPIED IMPORTANT SUCCESSES ON THE SOMME (By Telegraph—Pxess Association—Copyright). Australian-New Zealand Cable Aseociation. .. „ ,' ■- - . . ■''■.' , London, November 5. A French official communique states: "Eastward of Fort Vaux we extended our progress, occupying during the night Damloup village." GREAT ENTHUSIASM IN PARIS. _, •' ■' ■ ■ . , Paris, November 5. There was much enthusiasm over tho capture of Fort Vaux. The victory was due to tho splendid heavy artillery. For the first time the Germans evacuated a position without being attacked by the infantry. The Parisians bracket General Mangin with Major Raj'rial, who : surrendered in June when riot a single cartridge was left in the fort. Tho front is now similar to what' it,was on February 3(? March 31), before the great' German adtvance. FRENCH ATTACK ON SAILLY-SAILLISEL IMPORTANT OPERATIONS AVITH SUCCESSFUL RESULTS. London, 'November 5. ' A French official communique states: "North of the Somme the enemy did not attempt to renew his attacks on our trenches at St. Pierre-Vaast Wood. There was an intermittent artillery duel during tho night." (Aust.—ST.Z. Cable Assn. end Beutcr.) ■; ■ : (Rec. November 6, 8.30 p.m.) ''.'■„ , „■■',"• ". Paris, November 6. A French official communique states: "North of the Somme we made a series of appreciable advances from south of Le Transloy to south of St Pierre-Vaast Wood-, and pushed our line forward between Leshoeufs andl Sailly Saillisel, a distance of several hundred metres in the direction of Le Transloy. We captured a trench east of Sailly Saillisel, and conquered most of the village of Saillisel. South of that, attacking St. Pierre-Vaast Wood from three sides, we made an important advance, capturing successively three trenches defending' the northern horn of the wood, and a whole line of hostile positions in the south-western outskirts. Fighting is most desperate in this section. Furious German counter-attacks were brilliantly foiled and we took many prisoners., ' ■ "The artillery duel has continued-in the Douaumont region (Verdun). We have occupied the whole of the village of Vaux." BRITISH ADVANCE ON THE SOMME .(Rec. November 6, 8.30 p.m.) . . , London, November 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We attacked at several points and made some progress. We cleared out a pocket of Germans on the extreme right, and progressed on our centre, on a front of over a thousand yards, securing the high ground in the neighbourhood of Butte Do Warlencourt. The weather continues to be stormy." . GAINS REVIEWED. Anstrnlian-New Zealand Coble Association (Rec. November 6, 11.40 p.m.) ,_,''■■' "'.•'■'..' . London, November 6. Tho newspapers point out that the gains mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's dispatch are important. The position seized is the last of the high ground before Bapaume. The French advances should render Saint Pierre Vaast Wood untenable for the Germans. BAD WEATHER DELAYS THE OFFENSIVE . (Rec. -November 6, 6.20 p.m.) n z■. • jjl j.- i , , , Lont,on i November 5. Uonstant rain and storms continue to delay the grand offensive operations. Bright dry spells intervene, but these are not sufficient for the shellchuraed water-logged ground to become firm onough for a general advance. German- deserters unanimously testify to the horrible discomforts under which the enemy is labouring.

AUSTRIAN ATTACKS HURLED BACK ITALIANS EXTEND THEIR GAINS 9000 PRISONERS IN FOUR DAYS (Aitßl.—N.Z. Cable Aean. nnd Kcuter.) London, November 6. An Italian official report states: "The enemy five times attacked ub on the slopes of Sima Bocclie, but was driven off with heavy loss. We extended our occupation south of Oppacchiasella. The total number of prisoners taken on tho Italian front since August 6 is 40,363, including 1008 officers. AVo have taken in the last four days 8952 prisoners, including 270 officers." ~ DASHING ADVANCE OF THE ELEVENTH ARMY. Australian-New Zealand Gablo Association. London, November 5. An Italian semi-official message states: "Two days of incessant fighting in the Northern Carso did not exhaust the dashing Eleventh Army, which advanced eastwards besides northwards, pivoting on Mount Faith, the key of the enemy's defences. Tho army then wheeled south-eastward, . capturing strong defences and eliminating the whole salient. The whole advance covers a tract of over two miles deep by three and a half wide. Nine thousand prisoners weis taken, audi t&ej inotada 25'9 officers." ,

AUSTRIANS ADMIT A "DEBACLE" (Auet.—N.Z. Cable Assn, end Eeuter.) The "IVibuna" states; that the Austrians in the lost contact with the Austrians m the Northern Carso. Tho enemy did not expect the Italians to continno tho attack at night, and whole battalions were made prisoner in the caves without a shot being fired. An Austrian Brigade Staff at Mount laitli, was also surrounded in the darkness, and compelled to surrender. Many of the Austrian prisoners were dying of thirst. They had been without water for three days, because all tho services had been disorganised. The Austrian artillery shelled a column of Austrian prisoners, massacring many. Tbe ,^ l l*?, I ? sse V™™n first vo da y s of the offensive were 9000 prisoners, 10,000 killed, and 20,000 wounded. Vienna telegrams regard the position as a veritable debacle. General Boodevicb has asked for reinforcements, as he has had to withdraw tnreo divisions. _ Italian aeroplanes destroyed the railway station at Nabresina (on the Tneste-Monfalcone railway, midway between the two towns). Tho aeroplanes also hit several munition and troop trains. The explosions destroyed tho lino for some distance.