BRITISH FRONT ON THE SOMME EXTENDED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2963, 29 December 1916, Page 5

BRITISH FRONT ON THE SOMME EXTENDED

OPERATION COMPLETED ON CHRISTMAS | NIGHT ! • ~~~ .. (licc. December 28, 5,5 p.m.) ■ London, December 27. The 'Paris "Journal's" correspondent supplies the. first news of the British extension of their front on the Somme. . „ , • . It was a busy Christmas for the Tommies entering the French lines in the stillness and cold of the night. Huudreds upon hundreds of convoys with food, munitions, and material for shelters.moved along the roads to the war trenches, and thousands upon thousands of men, like shadowy forms, passed silently and secretly on tho thoroughfares within a few yards the onomy. Our guards'; trenches redoubled) their vigilance. It was a severe, anxious time, involving the oxchaugo of duties of two Allied armies, aud it with' tho utmost -order and success.. The operation was completed on Christmas night. Soon the names of celebrated; French woods and villages will again ho mentioned .with added glory, no longer in French, but in British communiques. ; • The extent of the section lakon over has not yet 'been' disclosed.—Ans.N.Z. Cable Assn. ENEMY COMPLETELY DUPED BY SIR DOUGLAS HAIG. (Rcc. December 28, 10 p.m.) London, December 28. The Paris "Journal's" dramatic disclosure caused a sensation in London. This explains the prolonged bombardment on the Ypres front, where Sir Douglas Haig persuaded the Germans that an attack was imminent. Ilie enemy was completely duped.' While boasting they had repulsed a British attack south-east of Ypres and on both sides of the Wieltji, north of 1 pres, the great transfer was effected without mishap. The extension represents the British Christmas box to their French!allies, who had long been hoping that Sir Douglas Haig would bo able to increase his responsibilities. Whereas the British-Belgian line hi November was 94 miles, the French ■nfere holding 360. Some French Tegiments composed of men of over 45 years, had held the line at Verdun without leave sinco August, 1914, and were in winter trenches. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn; NINE AEROPLANES BROUGHT DOWN BY THE ENEMY. (Rec. December 28, 10 p.m.) , , ■ , London, December 281 ' A. Berlin, communique claims bringing down nine aeroplanes ou the estern front. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-l^eiiter. NEW ZEALANDERS PRAISED BY A FRENCH GENERAL (Rec, December 28, 11.40 p.m.) London, December 28. The French General d'Amade sent the following message to Sir Joseph Ward: "I wish you to convey to your country my admiration and pride at having commanded men from New Zealand of such splendid fighting quali- ■ ties and magnificent physique. My greatest desire is to visit New Zealand and renew an association which can never be forgotten." I _ . _ Sir Joseph Ward replied, thanking the General for the praise which he was sure New Zealanders would appreciate, and hoped that General d'Amade would visit New Zealand. —Aus.-N.iZ. Cable Assn. EXTENSION OP THE BALKAN FRONT ALSO COMPLETED. London, December 27. When the British extended their front on the Somme,. simultaneously the British line in the Balkans was. lengthened. It is now actually longer than the British front in France—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.