SOMME BATTLE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17282, 25 September 1916, Page 7

SOMME BATTLE.

BRITISH FRONT. LINE PUSHED ON A -MILE. ENEMY TRENCHES CAPTURED. Tho High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, September 22. A British official report states that southwards of tho Ancro during the night we advanced one mile on our front, capturing two lines of trenches between Flora -and Martinpuich. Our line now runs approximately direct north of Flers and Martinpuich. Tho enemy trenches wero entered last night south of Arras, where we captured prisoners and inflicted casualties. Northwards of Neuville St Vaast a mine wn* exploded and tho crater occupied by us. FURTHER ADVANCES. Tho High Commissioner reports:—■ LONDON, September 23. A British official message says:— There is heavy artillery tire by both sides. In isolated actions wo improved ed our position and pushed forward detachments in several directions. Later. A British official report says:— Southwards of the Ancro we further advanced during the night east of Courcelette. We captured a strongly fortified py>tem of enemy trenches on a half-m'ilo front west of Moquot Farm: A violent enemy cotuuor-aHack was driven bark with heavy losses. POSITIONS IMPROVED. SUCCESSFUL AIR RAIDS. Australian ar.il N.2. Cib'.e Amjociatiou. .Received September 24, 11 p.m.) LONDON, September 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— We eontin.ied to improve our position Font.li of the Ancro, pu-dnng dctaeiineuts into the enemy's advanced trencnes. During Friday's bombardmen!.- ten. enemy gun-pits wero cles-trov:-d and fourteen were severely damaged. Fire ammunition pit?; were exploded. To-day our artillery cau.-ed a big tire in a village largely used' for the transport of r-u'.p.ios. Fitly aeropiiiu.'S successfully raided an important railway junction and did much damage, including the destruction of two ammunition trains. Other Tuccos-ful raids were carried out on railway works and aerodromes. WITH THE FRENCH. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. The High Commissioner reports:— ' LONDON, September 22. A French official report states that northwards of the. Sommc the Germans made a strong attack on our new positions between le Prims Farm and Rancourt. This was cheeked by our barrage fire, but waves of assuult returned, suffering serious losses.

FRENCH SUCCESSES NEAR COMBLES. Australian and X.Z. Cable Association. (Received September 24, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, September 23. A communique says :—Wo raptured by surprise a fortified horse on the outskirts of Combles. Further east we carried several portions of trenches. Our curtain fire frustrated tho enemy attack sr.'atb of R-aneourt. Tho total prisoners taken between September 1 and IS are 55,500, of whom 3-1,050 wero taken by the French. PATROLS IN COM TILES. (Received September 24, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, September 23. A communique says :—Patrols passing forward in the southern outskirts of Combles found numerous enemy dead. The night generally was quiet. Thero was great aerial activity on the entire Somme front. (Received September 24, 11 p.m.) PARIS, September 24. A communique says:—There was violent artillery fire in the Bouchavesnes, Belloy and' Berny sectors. THE GERMAN SIDE. OFFICIAL REPORTS. (Received September 24, 5.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, September 23. A Berlin communique says: —Hit battlo on tho Somme has been resumed. The French resultlessly attacked tho Comblci-Raneourt Line and British, Courcelette. \Y<' brought donn eleven aeroplanes on the Somme. NEWSPAPER'S A DVICE. Route? « Telegrems. AMSTERDAM, September 22. The "Frankfurter Zeitung" states that by tho battle of the Somme the Allies desire to draw German troops from tho south-eastern theatre, and advises the general staff not to hold what is not worth holding. Villages and long-maintained positions are being lost, but even greater shortenings on the western front would benefit the general situation. THE ENEMY'S LOSSES. Australian and X.Z. Cable Association. (Received September 2;', 5.5 p.m.) PARIS. September 2.1. Tho newspaper "Libcrte" publishes the statement of a French staff officer who says that the Germans jr. the battle on September 20 lost tit least 30,C00. CANADA'S SHARE. TAKING OF COURCELETTE. (Received September 24, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 23. Tho Canadians had a brilliant share in the battle of September 15. The\ forced, back tho Ge.<''>">ns for aver a

milo and captured Mouqiict Farm. After desperate resistance they carried a sugar refinery, then advanced and captured tho whole of the village of Courccletto.. Altogether they took 1200 prisoners, including thirty-two officers. The artillery barrage advanced before the Canadians stage by stage with remarkable precision. Tho infantry moved forward in successive waves. Directly tho first lines of German trenches were secured the assaulting waves pressed on. Tn their midst wero several armoured cars. Tho Germans were powerless to stop the cars, which assisted materially in silencing tho ma-chine-guns and in enfilading tho enemy trenches. The attack was so successful that it was decided to press on to Courccletto and Mouquet Farm. JVith--1 in twelve hours the Canadians captured tho whole of the defensive works on a wido front tn a depth of from 1000 to 2000 yards, despite the fact that the Germans wero fighting with tho courage of despair.