SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS ON THE SOMME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2927, 13 November 1916, Page 5

SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS ON THE SOMME

ENEMY SEVERELY HANDLED GREAT ACTIVITY BEHIND THE GERMAN LINES The High Commissioner roports:^ London, November 10, noon. A British official report states:—"On Thursday we made many bombing raids against the enemy's communications, billets, and stores. Air fighting is almost continuous, owing to the improved weather. One of our squad" rons, of thirty machines, encountered thirty or forty machines, and the result was an aerial battle, in which the enemy's squadron was dispersed, and six of his machines commenced to fall, but owing to the severity of the fighting it was impossible to watch them ground. As the result of other fights, nine more hostile machines wero brought down, three of them, with a kite balloon, being destroyed. Seven of our machines are missing." London, November 11, 12.40 p.m. A British official report states During the night the eastern portion of the Regina trench, and the continuing length of the trenches which were captured on October 21, were stormed ' and captured, despite a heavy barrage of fire by the German artillery. Our new positions were secured on 1000 yards of front." London, November 11, 11.50 p.m. A British official report states: —"Sixty prisoners were taken yesterday night. Effectivo bombing raids were made on the enemy's hutments; aerodromes, headquarters, stations, and trains. Two trains wero hit, and a third set on fire, explosions following. In numerous air fights three of the enemy's machines wero dostroyed. A fourth landed in outlines and others were brought down, damaged. One of our machines is missing." ON . THE FRENCH FRONT

LIQUID-FIRE ATTACK COSTS THE ENEMY SEVERE LOSSES. 'Australia.n-Ncw Zealand Cable Association. . -r, , „ . . , , m , Paris, November 10. A French official communique states :—"Thora have been intermittent cannonades and skirmishes. Seventy-seven air fights have occurred. Our air squadrons boinbcd the enemy communications and cantonments, and especially the railway stations at Lens, Vouziere, Courcellc sur Nied tho blast furnaces at Tbionville, an aerodrome at Dieuze, and airship ,sheds at ..Frescaty." (Aust.-N.Z. Cable Aesn. and E<rut,er.) (Rcc. November 12, 5.5 p.m.) . m, Paris, November 11. A French official communique states: —"There was a violent artillerv attack north of tho Somme. Tho enemy, using flaiumcn werfor (liquid fire), attacked in the vicinity of'Denieconrt, and were forced hack with most sanguinary losses. Guynemer brought down bis twentieth and twenty-first machines. Throe others were also brought down. We dropped two tons of bombs on t.he enemy's position on the Somme. A French aeroplano flew over the Rhine, and bombed and severely damaged the station at Aldenburg." (Rcc. November 12, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, November 11. A French official communique states: —"North of tho Somme we captured several elements of the enemy's trenches north-east of Lesboeitfs and

Sailhescl. A German counter-attack in the latter region was easily repulsed. South of the Somme the bombardment lias been continued intermittently, being violent on tho Pressoir and Ablaiu court sectors. "On the right bank of the Mouse there is great reciprocal- artillery fighting everywhere between the Haudraumont quarries and Damloup. The front is quiet elsewhere." (Rec. November 12, 11.50 p.m.) . Paris, November 12. A French official communique states: —"The French this afternoon, north of the Somme, recaptured mosfof tho village of SailHsel. We occupy tho north-eastern and south-eastern outskirts. The enemy is'still resisting desperately in the eastern part of the village. "A German attack south of Pressoir, south of tho Somme, was repulsed with bombs. "A furious artillery duel continues in the Ablaincourt and Gomiecourt districts. "Soventeon British aeroplanes on Friday dropped two tons of projectiles on the steel work at Focklinger, north-west of Saarbruck, and brought down three enemy machines in fights during tho raid. "On the following night eight French aeroplanes dropped two tons and a half of projectiles on tho . same works. Several fires wero observed. All tho machines returned safely. "French squadrons on IViday night rained projectiles on the stations of Ham, St. Quentin, Tergnier, and Nosle, the aerodrome at Diewze, blastfurnaces at Romsbach and Hagoudange, and airsheds at Frescaty, causing oxplosions and fires.

"German aeroplanes on Friday night bombarded several French towns, including Nancy aud Hudevillc, doing no damage. "The open towyv of Amiens was several times bombarded on the same night. Nine civilians were killed and 26 injured."

GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. , _ . . . Amsterdam, November 10. A German official communique features the activity of the Gorman airmen on the Somme, and claims that these shot down seventeen aeroplanes. It states that strong French attacks at Sailly were partly repulsed in hand-to-hand fighting. (Rec. November 12, 5.5 p.m.) . Londoni November 11. A German official communique states:—"The British have succeeded in penetrating one of our first-line trenches north-east _of Courcelette. In house-to-house fighting near the Church of Sailly Sailliesel the Freuch secured small advantages. Otherwise their attacks failed. Ten of the enemy's aeroplanes were brought down yesterday." NAVAL AIR-RAID ON OSTEND AND ZEEBRUGGE (Rac. November 12, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 10. The Admiralty reports:—"A squadron of naval Aeroplanes carried out an attack early this morning on the German harbours and submarine shelters at Ostend and Zeebrugge, using bombs of great weight ' Satisfactory results were obtained." LEST WE GROW TOO OPTIMISTIC IMPRESSIVE' DESCRIPTION OF THE ENEMY'S PREPARATIONS., Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. November 12, 5.5 p.m.) n nit _ i. » 1 , London, November 11. lhe Morning Post s" correspondent with the British Army says:—"lf the optimists who preach of Germany's imminent collapse had an aeroplane vision of Picardy they would moderate their prophecies. The Germans, undismayed by four months of deefats, are labouring calmly and methodically to strengthen their grip upon France: The recent call' to arms to German people is already having its effect m the' field. _ The. Germans ask for nothing better than to be let alone during the winter months, in order to reorganise their defences. More largo guns have already been concentrated on the horn me, and the supply of munitions has been increased and accelerated. German. fighting and scouting aeroplanes are being manufactured in large numbers, man endeavour to recover their lost air supremacy. Since the enemy was driven put of Flers and Guendecourt thev have built up a strong position, with everrdeopemng dug-outs, with plentiful communications, three deep rows of wire and other entanglements, and pitfalls. This is hot yet comparable with the massive fortress-like works of their original triplo line, but, nevertheless, is a strong bulwark for shielding Bapaume. Further back the entire countryside is m the hands of the enjgineers, who aro sowing machine-guns 'about with a liberal hand, transforming fields, hamlets, and woods into the foundations of a new battlefield. Miniature tramlines and light railways aro spreading. Part of the muddle and confusion in the German lines following the first attacks in July wore, due to lack of adequate communications, making it impossible to suply ammunition rapidly. The German commanders are not going to risk a similar predicament." Mr. Percival Gibbon, in the "Daily Chronicle," says:—"Among the German armies on the Western front! dejection, and the fear of defeat are growing, but there was never a moment wlion it would he more dangerous to relax our vigilance and effort. A distinguished officer whose duty it is to gauge tho enemy's strength, says that they aro preparing to put forth every ounce of strength. , If we beat them, thoy aro finished. Our only risk in the forthcoming crisis will be in over-estimating what we have r already done. We cannot afford to slacken our efforts for an instant."