THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 September 1916, Page 3

THE WAR

i s * ~ (Australia-New Zetland Cable Service.) 5 THE ALLIES' ADVANCE IX FRANCE. I London, Sept. 26. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We were to-day everywhere successful. We stormed a. position on a six-mile front between Combles and Marti npuicli to a depth of more than a mile and captured the strongly-Fortified vilk'lit bombaidmenfc on the west lages of Morval and Lcs Boeufs, practically severing the communications of Combles. The enemy's losses were heavy. Morval stands on the heights to the northward of Combles, and -with subterranean quarries, trenches,'' and wire entanglements constituted' a formidable fortress. The possession of Morval and Les Boeufs is of considerable military importance. We took many prisoners, machineguns and other material. Our losses in relation to the results heretofore have been comparatively small. ' Six enemy aeroplanes were destroyed on Sunday, and three were brought down damaged. Three of ours are missing. Paris. Sept. 26. A communique states:—After a viofront. the French extended their lines north-westward of Combles and captured Raucourt, taking 400 unwounded prisoners. The French infantry, assuming the offensive towards noon, attacked simultaneously the position between Combles and Raucourt and defences accumulated) between Rancourt nnd the Somme. We carried our lines northeastward of Combles to the southern outskirts of Frezicourt. We conquered powerfully organized ground at Frezicourt to Hill '148 and extended our positions eastward of the j Bethune road to- a diepth of a kilo- | metro from the Combles road to Ilouchavesnes. We carried by assault a height north-eastward of the latter and reached Hill 130, to the southeastwa rd. We carried further south several trench systems near the northern canal from the Bethune road to the Somme. Our aeroplanes dropped 150 bombs on the railway stations at Bam, Hombleux and Manancourt and an aviation ground at Vraignes. THE ENEMY'S REPORT. London, Sept. 25. A German communique states:— Enemy advances at Rancourt and 'Bouchavesnes failed. We repulsed strong French attacks north-west of Souvillc. We brought down nine aeroplanes yesterday. There was one child victim of tho aeroplane attack on Essen, others were wounded. There was unimportant material damage. Wo maintained our position at Manajow against strong 'Russian attacks. Rumanian advances against Szurduk and Vulcan passes failed. The fighting south of the Colndinus-Topraisar line was facourable to our troops. Our airships bombarded the fortress of. Burcliamst. •Serb attacks on the Kajraacc-alan broke down. Weaker English advances on a wide front on the Stnma were repulsed. ANOTHER RAID. London, Sept. 26. Official.—Several airships crossed the eastern and north-eastern coasts between 10.30 and midnight. Bombs; were dropped! in several places in tho northern and north Midland counties. The airships are now off tho south coast. > Field-Marshal French reports:— It is believed that six airslrtps visited the north-east and southern counties. There was some casualties and damage. Full reports have not been received).