FRENCH PROGRESS

Nelson Evening Mail, 18 September 1916, Page 5

FRENCH PROGRESS

ADVANCES .SOUTH: OF THE SOMME, IMPORTANT POSITION- CAPTURF.D (Australian and N.Z Cable Association.; TAPIS. Sept. 16. A. communique states that in the course of 'brisk fights, we seized a strongly held trench and wood' eastward of vDeniecourfc. and three trenches in succession north-eastwards of Berivy. We consolidated our new positions north of the Somme. A German attack <iast of Clery was repulsed. In addition to nii;e German aeroplanes brought down on -Friday six ot-heis were forced, to descend after comoats. Our air squadrons early on Friday morning dropped 106 (large shells on miliary establishments at iPontsaverger and DethenrvEle, causing large fires. They also dropped 174 large "shells at Gentians and .Tarny station. We made progress north ward of Le Priez Farm, securing a system of trenches to a depth of 500 metre?. We coupled' with the British operations, which have materially advanced the encirclement of Combles. ißy lively comlbats eastward of Be-■t-hune road a.nd northward of Bouchavesnes we extended our positions.

TKvo attacks in the Deniecourt and Berny sectors yielded considerable gains. , Ten aeroplanes successfully bombed the railway stations and' railways at Tergnier, 'Chauny, Guisearo, and Pout- a Mcaisson. and others the barracks at Stenay, wliee several l fires were observed. They also 'bombed a Rom'bach fact or v.

Our airmen set fire to works at, DilLingen, in the Saar Valley. A communique reports that the front is comparatively quiet. We made propress northward of Bouchavesnes, and 1 captured trenches north-eastward of Berny.. A counter-attach between "Belloy and Barileux collapsed 'under our madhine guns.

Our air squadron bom-bed 1 blast furnaces at Utkingen and Ivomharh, works at- MondeTingen, railways southward of .Met-z, and railway stations at Bc-nraorfi, ■S'pincourt, and Longuyon.