WESTERN FRONT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11651, 21 August 1916, Page 5

WESTERN FRONT.

GREAT ALLIED SUCCESSES FIGHTING ON THE WHOLE FRONT. STRONG POSITIONS GAINER. ALL ENEMY ATTACKS BROKEN. The High Commissioner reports:— London, Ang. 19. Official.—The French attack north of the Somme against that portion of Manrepas occupied by Germans enabled us to capture in the course of a brilliant assault a notable part of the village. Two hundred unwounded prisoners were taken between Maurepas and the Somme. We extended our positions on the right of the Meuse. We continued our pursuing the enemy from tvyo fortified redoubts northwest of Thiaumont. Official. —On Friday afternoon there was lively fighting by the British on the whole front from Pozieres to the Somme. We captured several strong positions and gained ground towards Guinchy and Guillemont. Two hundred prisoners were taken during the day, including some officers.

During the fight the French also progressed. Enemy billets were successfully bombed by aircraft. The French official report says:—

Enemy counterattacks at Murepas and towards (Jlery were broken, excepting once, north of Maurepas. Left of the Meuse yestereve two .German grenade attacks on a salient east of Avocourt Redoubt, and on the trenches at Hill 60, were unsuccessful in reaching our lines. They retired, leaving dead and wounded on the ground. We took foot by toot an island of ruined houses, east of Pleury, despite two counter attacks,. The whole village is now in our hands.

Sir Douglas Haig reports;—The successjreported last uight was maiutined aud extended. During the night the enemy made the most determined counter attacks on the position captured, and succeeded in regaining a little to the extreme right, hut was elsewhere repulsed. At High Wood, where we join with the French, we advanced on a two mile front, to a depth varying from two to six hundred yards. We now hold the western outspkirte of Guillemont northwards, thence midway between Delville Wood and Guiucliy. Hundreds of yards of enemy trenches were captured between High Wood and Albert-Bapaume Road. We made a three hundred yards advance eastwards—south-eastwards of Mouqnet Farm. We also pushed forward on a half mile front at Ovillers aud Thiepval. We took prisoner several hundreds.