SOMME BATTLE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17283, 26 September 1916, Page 7

SOMME BATTLE.

THE BRITISH FRONT. ARTILLERY ACTIVITY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Aeiociatiofl LONDON, September 24, Sir Douglas Haig reports:— There is considerable artillery activity on both sides southward of the Ancre. Wo entered the German trenches eastward of Neuvillo St Vaast and took prisoners.

THREE GERMAN ATTACKS FAIL,

Router's Telegram*.

(Received September 25, 7 p.m.) LONDON, September 25.

Sir Douglas Haig reports:—South of the Ancre three enemy attacks west of Lesbceufs were repulsed with loss, liiero wua active arwuery fire at many points. , jjivo raids were made by our airmen on railway stations and enemy communication. Five hostile macnine3 wero destroyed in air fighting yesterday, and two others were downed damaged. Five of'our machines are missing. . , . FURTHER CAPTURES. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, September 23. A British official messago records the capture of troops'and German trenches. WITH THE FRENCH. ARTILLERY ACTIVE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.' PARIS, September 24. A French communique says:— • Our artillery has been active northward of the Somme. . German aviators are unusually active, but we remain incoutestably superior. In twenty-nine air combats on the Somme front we shot down ten German machines. * ARTILLERY DUELS. \ - ' Beuter'a Telegrams; (Received September 25, 7 p.m.) / PARIS, September " 25. A* communique says:—Thero is nothing important' apart from an artillery duel south of the Somme. THE FRENCH LOSSES. ARTILLERY FIRE REDUCES , CASUALTIES. v Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, September 24. ' The French casualties on the Somme are proportionately orie-half of those of 1915. The minuteness of the artillery preparation and the aerial observation enable the infantry to advance under a curtain of shells, moving continuously two hundred yards ahead of them. AIR COMBATS., FRENCH SUCCESSES. . The High Commissioner reports:— s LONDON, September 23. A French official message claim f successes in twenty-nine aerial combats, when twenty-four German machines were brought down and most of them destroyed.

THE CANADIANS.

HOW COURCELETTE FELL,

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

LONDON, September'24.

Mr Philip Gibbs says that the Canadians' capture of Cburcelette was one of the most astounding things in the Somme battle.

After the. Sugar Refinery had been taken, the unwoundod officers held a conference as to the possibility of taking Courcelette. All seemed quiet in tho ruins, but no one knew the size of the garrison, though an occasional burst of machine-guns showed that d&fenders remained.

It was manifest that ,it -was a big Vunture for tho fag end of the day. I r t . the conference decided to try.;

The honour of leading the attack was given to the "Mop-up" battalion, largely of French Canadians. Afterwards it was. discovered that there were 15,500 Germans in the village, greatly outnumbering the stormers Tiny parties of Canadians dashed into dug-outs full of Germans and one boy brought up twenty prisoners j Two German colonels were chagrined to find that they had surrendered to •!uch a small force The enemy made seven counter-attacks in tho night. Things often looked black, but tho Canadian boys came through.

THE GERMAN SIDE.

FAILURE OF ALLIED ATTACKS CLAIMED. " Tho Times " Service. (Received September 25, 5.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM. September 24. A German communique says:—On th« Somme front fighting is again in full swing. Allied attacks on Courcelette, Rancourt and Bouchavesnes failed. Wo brought down twenty-four aeroplanes, of which twenty were on tho Sommo. We lost nine. .

BATTLE FOR THE RIDCE.

ELEVEN VITAL POINTS

ALLIES HOLD NINE. " Tho Times " Service. . (Receivod September 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 24. A correspondent of "Tho Times" at tho western headquarters says : <i General Staff map recently found on a captured German officer indicated eleven vital points which had to be bold while ono dofender remained alive. Nino are already in the Allied hands, and the remaining two are Catside the scope of battle for the ridge: The eapttired positions arc closely crowded and obscuro tho significance of each. Tho whole ridge is a continuous chain of fortresses protecting other, ani so interlocked that their strength is increased a thousandfold- • • •',-■ - ; ' V '' ■■'

THE OMENS GOOD.

GERMAN ARTILLERY RETIRED > United Service. - : i (Received September 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. September 24.'

Mr Beach Thomas says that the battle omens are unusually good. The Germans have withdrawn many, guns to the extreme limit, and have lessened their <They show nervousness in other frays. Counterattacks aro vehement, but ,thcy lack • sting, wliereaij the Bt-itifih; and Dominion troops charge With a winning side's zest. But before the'enomy loaveshis last foothold >ho will wrestle for a heavy fall. Behind, the machine-gun-ner stands an officer with a revolver in his hand. The enemy finds it equally difficult to surrender or to fight. .