SOMME BATTLE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17287, 30 September 1916, Page 9

SOMME BATTLE.

BRITISH FRONT. FURTHER ADVANCE. CASUALTIES VERY LIGHT. ■ f Tlie High Commissioner reports— LONDON, September 28. A British official messago says:—During the night we advanced at various points between Martinpuich and Gueudeoourt, posts being established west and south-west of Eaucourt l’Abbaye. The fighting of the last few days was singularly economical, our total casualties being not more than twice the number of enemy made prisoner. NEW POSTS ESTABLISHED. Australian and N\“. Cable Association. LONDON, September 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— ' Wo have advanced at points between Martiupiucli u . .u Gueudecourt ana ; established posts west, and south-west :

of Eaucourt' l’Abbnyo,, within eight hundred yards of the, village. We have consolidated our position or the ridge north-east of Thiepval and i successfully shelled a marching 'enemy | battalion with transport. I NORTH OF THIEPVAL. ' BRITISH ENTER POWERFUL REDOUBT. ENEMY RECOGNISES BRITISH DASH. (Received September 29, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 29. Sir Douglas Haig reports: —Wo captured tho bulk oi tho Schwaben redoubt on a crest five hundred yard? north of Thiepval. Schwaben redoubt l is on the highest ground of tho Thiep--4 val spur, in full view of the northerp valley of the Ancre. We elsewhere consolidated /our ground and advanced our lino north and north-east of Couroelctte. Our aeroplaues greatly damaged the enemy batteries and also attacked troops and transport with ma-chine-gun fire. In tho captured redoubt we found a report issued by the commander of a German corps which says: “The British infantry arc smart in attack, largely because of their immense confidence in their great artillery superiority. One must admit the skill with which they consolidate their new positions. They show great tenacity in defence, and small parties, .once established with machine-guns in the comer of a wood or in a group of houses, are very difficult to dislodge.’.’ Sir Douglas Haig, to show the effects of the British artillery fire,- _ mentionf that hitherto the British instructions from experience in defence and attack, were based on the existence of a carefully constructed trench system. The troops on the Somme front, however, found no trenches whatever. * """ \ WITH THE FRENCH. BATTERIES BUSY. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, September 28. A French official message says:— Tho Somme batteries fited actively on German organisations. , VIOLENT CANNONADE. * _________ * (Received September 29, 8.30 p.m.) PARIS, September 29. A communique says:—The only feature of the day was a violent cannonade on thg Somme frotit. THE GERMAN SIDE. AMSTERDAM, September 28. A German communique says : Strong Anglo-French attacks between tho Ancro and the Somme, after artillery fire surpassing previous experience along the* greater part of tho battlefront, were victoriously repulsed by our unshakeable troops. The battle is not concluded at Thiepval and east of F.nucourt I’Abbaye. Attacks on the Morvnl-Bouchavesnes line bloodily failed. The enemy maintained his hold on small trench sections north-east of , Rancourt and east of Bouchavesnes. THE EXCUSE. TOO MUCH DUST RAISED. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Recoived September 29. 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 28. German newspapers, evidently . inspired, excuse the Somme defeat by isayiug, that the Allied artillery raised such a cloud of dust before the German trehches that it was impossible to ascertain where the attacks would be made. Thus the German artillory was unable to establish a barrage. NEED FOR CAUTION. FEEBLE GERMAN, RESISTANCE. ATTEMPT TO FORECAST RESULTS UNWISE. ' The Trios ” Service. . LONDON, September 28. “The Times ” correspondent at headquarters reports that prisoners state that most of the officers of some German regiments were killed. Others said that they were suffering from slomaciiache, in order- to get away, and when the trenches were taken tne British found only non-commissioned officers and privates. This is reported because it is true, hut we must not draw too large an inference from the behaviour of particular units. Tho air is full of rumours, owing to tho intoxicating air of victory, but it would be foolish to

attempt to guess how far-reaching the results will be, and wo must await what is behind the immediate feebleness of the resistance. • Barring exceptions, the story of’the last day’s fighting. is the most discreditable to the Germans sinco the beginning of the battle. CODING DIFFICULTIES. THE GERMANS NOT ROUTED. A PAUSE IN OPER ATIONS INEVITABLE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, September 28. Experts state that it is a mistako to regard the Germans ns routed, nevertheless each stepSjiforward means the diminution of German tenacity ana fighting value, and brings the day nearer when General Eocli and General Haig will consider it possible to break the German line. A pause in tho operations is inevitable. The Germails nro frantically digging in a new line, lmt the position is still dcttbtful. Cavalry patrols, pushing beyond Combles and Gueudo court, discovered that in the next trench linos tho enemy, hold two eon siderablo hills marked 148 and 153 on the French Staff map, one lying west of Combles in front of tho extensive Bois Saint Pierre Vaast and the othci opposite Morval, being part of tho winding ridge on which the twin villages of Saillv-Sallisel are built.. The Bapaume road crosses the ridge before :t clips to lc Transloy. TAKING OF THIEPVAL. T, , WORK OF THE TANKS. GERMAN INFANTRY ATTACK , MACHINE. (Received September 29, 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 28. Mr Philip Gibbs, who witnessed the capture of Thiepval. cays a tribute to

the invaluable help' given thq Ausfcralians’ work at Mouquet Farm, which compelled the . ultimate surrender of Thiepval garrison. The British loss, ho says, was amazingly light, considering the long, stubborn fighting and. the gallantry and desperation with which the garrison defended themselves. Twenty-four horn's’ continuous ■ bombardment preceedcd the assault, and when it ended there were only thirtyfour black and broken tree trunks and a mass of reddish brickwork, which was once the Thiepval chateau. There was not a German alivo about the ground, but many were hidden in a long series of vaults and tunnels- The Germans also made many exits where they could pop up with rifles and machine-guns. The British right wing advanced from Mouquet Farm, but the left liad a harder time. The battalion leading the aasa'ult dashed at the chateau, and from cellars beneath camo a savage machine-gun fire. Tho Britishers were also raked with enfilade lire from machine-guns, and for a long time it was impossible to got near the chateau, but a cry was raised: “Bring tho Tanks.” The very idea was a fine tonio to the attackers. Soon a Tank lumbered along, lurching oyer the shell craters, momentarily sitting on broken parapets, and then waddling forward towards the infantry. When it opened fi.ro it resembled a dragon with indigestion. It got over the enemy’s trenches and -trudged down the whole length, sweeping it with fire. Soon the German machine-guns were silenced, and the Britishers, cheering arid shouting, accepted the surrender. Unfortunately the mysterious anatomy of the Tank got out of order, and the Britishers had to face tho rest of the machine-guns alone. They had to dive into dark entries and burrow for the Germans. The search often resulted in a hand-to-hand fight, in which Britishers and Gormans strove to throttle each other in the darkness. Many deep dug-outs wore blown in at the entrance, and the Germans were forced to come out on the other side- Our men smoked out others. It was like rat-bunting. One party'of sixteen Germans treacherously turned upon ap escort of two Englishmen and wounded them. They got ho mercy from other Englishmen who camo up a moment later. Perhaps the most remarkable Tank adventure occurred at Gueudecourt, whore the Britishers were held up by a raking fire from mucliine-guns. The Tank strolled down and rolled over the trench, with fire flashing from both flanks, and delivered into the hands of the infantry four hundred prisoners, who waved white handkerchiefs above tho parapet. Exalted by its success, the Tank followed along alone in search of moro adversaries. Suddenly a horde of Germans rushed and tried to capture it. They flung,, bombs and clambered on its back afid tried to smash it with the butt-ends of their rifles. There was the wildest pandemonium, but when the British infantry arrived they found three hundred killed and wounded Germans around tho Tank.