Late War News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 July 1916, Page 3

Late War News

• 1 — (AustraJia-New Zealand Cable Service;. (Received This Day 9 a.m.) A FRENCH COMMUNIQUE. Pair is, July 3. A oammunique says tlhe enemy north of the Sonvme did not attempt any night attack on our newly-won position The fight Was oontdnued south of the Somme with complete suooees. The northern and western outskirts of Aeeeviliers are in our hands. Our troops made considera/ble progress north of the villages of ©stress, Aflsdvillera and Mort and prisoners to an unknown nuiriber and heavy guns were captured during the litest actions. Already we have idjntified thirty-nine German battalions in front of the .trench attack whereof the prisoners state that thirtyone sustained the heaviest losses, an-i wr>re completely disorganized. Most of prisoners are very young. They state tlwrt, our artillery was extremely effective. It not only annihilated iihe defensive organizations but obliterated all lateral communications to the relar and rendered control of the troops and feeding impossible.

BRITISH AEROPLANES. London, July 3. Davidi Henderson, at the Air Service enquiry, testified that we are in possession of aeroplanes oapable of flying to certain Zeppelin sheds and returning in reasonable weather. NEWS VIA SWITZERLAND. M Berne, July 3. The Orown Prince of Bavaria; commands the enemy opposing the British in th© vast area between Montafulban and AssevttlerS". The suocees is more important beoanse the British captured Mameta and Frjooart.

(Military critics emphasise the need for continued caution, and to 'be sparing in the lives of our men until * general break through is possible, meanwhile forcing action on)(y where decisive superiority is assured and inflicting the maximum loss on the enemy'a effensive. . German lewepajnrs protusl against the British gas a» it is more deadly than the German variety. COMMENTS ON THE POSITION. Paris, July 3. Correspondents eulogise the brilliant dafcli of the Scottish regiments, which as Sir Douglas Hiaig mentions, traversed three lines o>f trenches, and) entering Montau'ban ,slew hundreds with the bayonet. The Petit Journal says the general result of the present -offensive is the capture of the first and second line® at a minimum- loss to ourselves. M. Marcel Htin. in the Echo de Paris, says the British progress was slower than the French, duo to the difficulty of the ground. • The Allies engaged in lengthy operations wherein there Was plenty of work for the artillery before the attack. It was gratifying that the haul of prisoners, besides the strategic result, was drained and the success was not paid for too dearly. The Germans facing the British multiplied counter-attacks all day and night but were repulsed sanguinarily. Altogether the situation is favourable.

PANiIO KJEFOBTED liV BOR.LIN. (Australian and iSTew Zealand Oabl© Association.) London, July 3. The Daily Telegraph reports a panic in Berlin, and all available new arfcillory have gone west. The liaiser goes also. Special editions of the newspapers have been issued to reassure the people. FURTHER FiRJENGH SUOQBSfiBS. A communique says we occupied on Sunday night ou <a front of five Eilomotres two linos of the German aeoontl position-ifrom Bois de Meraucourt to Aissavilliera, including the village of Herbeeourt. (Received This Day 11.10 a.m.) TH E ANZAOS. London, July 3. A train load of British wounded reaohcdi Charing Cross. It included a nmnuber of Ansacs who werenot engagedi in tlie great push, but wore in the preliminary raids., All were in high spirits. Tho Anzacs are now Holding a section where the British are advancing. A party of New Zealand officers ihas arrived alt Chelsea Hospital. Sir Thomas Mackenzie and General Richardson visited! them.

THE ANZACB RAID. (United B«rvioe). London Joly 3. Correspondents referring to the Anzac raid on Thursday state thajt the storm of artillery fire seemed to be concentnated on one spot for two long minutes; it paused and then flashed forth agair less fiercely, and the An»acs rusHed to the 'raid. Within, five minutes they had reached the first concentration of tho enemy. They carried out their wonk with wonderful rapidity and returned successful. (Received This Day 11.55 a.m.) THE GERMAN HTORY. (Australia-New Zealand Cable Service.) Berlin, July 3. A communique states that"® continuation of the British-French attacks did not secure advantage north of Sommtj; thov suffered extraordinary sanguinary losses. We withdrew from our second position south of tho river. During the night the enemy again exhausted himself in a fruitless attack on • the village of Thia/umont. We captured 600 metres from the Frendh at the souiCli-weat of the village, but were driven out. We captured a hill and battery at Damloup, south-east of Fort Vaux, taking prisoner 100 and several machine guns. We brought down sis aeroplanes yesterday. The enemy repeatedly advance dot many points on Von Hindentarg'# front, particularly north of Smorgon, where the Russians had sanguinary losses. Von Linsingen and Bothmer continue successful fighting.