AN ALLIED OFFENSIVE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 76, 3 July 1916, Page 5

AN ALLIED OFFENSIVE

ANGLO-FRENCH SUCCESS. TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT, - "- *;■,'■ GERMAN LINES PIERCED. EXCITEMENT IN LONDON AND ."•'JS : Mflis, ■ :: 'vViviTXb' Pkebs Association; The news of the British offensive .created unprecedented * excitement in Lapdon and Paris. Yesterday's bombardment was much ttbr© vtoleht; than previously, and in •; «>ai»i!pai?ts : the British' poured shells *t the rate ; oi sixteen per second. The houses in; tioWaas twenty-five miles disjtani treniibledi and the ground shook;. The' spectacle at night time was moat impressive. As far as the could- see i here was nothing but a horizon of fire, the German positions befog enveloped in fire and smoke, while t an immense red reflection filled tho heavens. / . A correspondent of Lloyd's Weekly at Headquarters says we have captured Serre Montauban and important strategical positions between Hebu- • torne and Bray. We hold positions in tlio.villages of Cental Maison and Mamet«, are attacking Beaumonthmol, six miles north of Albert, and hav<M' "farml La Boiselle, two miles northtms prisoners have been taken on the German front lines. The Anglo!ench armies, fighting with the eatest gallantry, covered one and ajttter miles beyond the German M,)ine,'., rapidly occupying the villfrof (yirrlUj on the "Somrao, and flrlere Wood. GENERAL HAIC'B REPORT. ON THE BRITISH FRONT. MANY GERMAN TRENCHEB ENTERED. HEAVY ARTILLERY ACTION. - London, July 1. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: .Patrols, reconnoitring and raiding par- }'..'&& continued active all along the front. .They entered the German trenches at many points. A strong raiding party south of Neuvc ChapeHe penetrated to the German sup;POrt line. The weather was uui'avorFjffo for aerial work. There was a German heavy artillery action all day •long the front between Souchez, Hohenzollern and the Outznoe region. The attack was launched north of the Somme at 7.30, in conjunction with the French. The British had broken tile German forward defences ''•■■fta a sixteen mile front. .French attat'k on our immediate bright was proceeding satisfactorily. .JBajding' parties on the remainder ol * the ; British front penetrated the en-\-«aw's vrenches at many points, inloss and taking prisoners. Tjere was heavy fighting all day loaf -between the Somme, the Ancre tad northward of the Ancre as far «'s Qatemecom-t inclusive. The tighi on tha ■■ whole of this front con tinner.'with , i*len&ity. We captured, ou the right,

a labyrinth of trenches on a seven front, and a depth of 1000 yards. "We '''stormed" and' ,'occupied ,/ the strongly' fortified villages of M6ntau'baii and Mainaz, and /gained in our cenfre ! aitack on a four mile" front

many strong points. !I|r ;'fne enemy at other points' is still resisting. The struggle here is severe, and the battle northward of Ancre valley to Gommecourt was equally violent. Here 1 , we'were unable to. retain portions of the ground gained by the first attacks, but retain the others.

Upwards of two thousand Germans were ■"■ taken j .prisoners, two regimental commanders and the whole of the regimental staff. The large number of enemy dead indicated that the casualties were very severe.

Parties penetrated the German trenches at various points between Souchevnnd Xpres on Friday night, inflicting casualties. j There was much .successful, air work against die railway depots, junction^ and trains,. as, well as the batteries and trenches. AN EICHTY-MILE FRONT. UNPRECEDENTED BURS* OF BRITISH ARTILLERY. London, July 1. The Morning Post's correspondent at Headquarters says the British artillery on an entire eighty-mile front has reached a vigor hithero unapproached. Undoubtedly we have begun to get the guns and ammunition for which we have been waiting and are using them to the fullest extent.

Expert artillerists believe the British are not only equal, but have a pull o-ver the Germans in the matter of artillery.

The correspondent visited a section where the enemy has had the worst time he hjs ever experienced since the British shells burst overhead. The German reply was singularly feeble, and gave the impression of being in a sullen mood and not liking our new guns and shells. The Germans have mostly hauled down their kite balloons. Fourteen British balloons on a short front, and not a single German one were counted.

The recent raids served the most useful purpose in disclosing the identity of every German battalion from the sea to the Somme.

German prisoners taken at the Soinmo had not tasted food for three days. They were weary and famished, and gladly deserted. It has been learned that eight German divisions were withdrawn from the West front and transferred to the East front, in the hope of stemming the Itussian advance. A storv is current that one of these divisions', tho Eleventh Bavarian, disobeyed an order to re-attack at Verdun. Every tenth man was ordered to be shot, 'but the order was countermanded after the King of Bavaria s personal appeal to the Kaiser. The bombardment of the German positions continues with the utmost severity. Patrols report that many trenches are deserted, and the. defences and the wires damaged. ■

MORE BLOODY WORK IN VIEW.

. London, July I. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent says that the French arc following the British tactics, and an' worrying the Germans by making asIsaults from Hhcims to Soissons. The I enemy is losing heart. Although ther« I is terrible proof that we now possess equal artillery, it is unwise to raise unduly high hopes. There must b« bloody fighting befove tlie end.

The British launched a vigorous attack after a terrific bombardment of ninety minutes. Our casualties were not heavy.

DISCLOSURES OF THE ARTICLE RY. Loudon, July 2. (Router's correspondent at headquarters states that he traversed nearly ninety miles of British front and was impressed by the superiority of the British artillery. Deserters state that i" consequence of tho violence of the British gunnery they were foodless for three days. Tho wholesale daring of the infantry raids terrified the enemy. The raids enabled the British to definitely identify the position and character of every German- battalion between the Yser and the Somme. and showed that the enemy had not withdrawn any formations from the British front. Tt is known, however, that the Eleventh Bavarian Division, which was at Verdun, the Twenty-second Reserve Corps and the Tenth Army Corps from the Champagne wore sent to the Eastern front, as were probably also three other divisions.

GREAT FRENCH RESULTS.

3500 PRISONERS TAKEN.

Paris, July 2

A communique, states:, Northward and southward of the Somme, the Franco-British developed an offensive over a forty kilometre front and captured thetfrsi Gorman, positions along the wholeJWtk attick. The French, northward of the Somme, established themselves on the outshirts of HfcW idecert,>iio>o»e the fringe of the Allaire o* fighting continues. Southward of the Somme, the villages of Dampierrc, Mecquincourt, Busius, and Fay are in our hands The French, alone, took upwards ot 3500 unwounded prisoners.

THE FIGHT FOR VERDUN.

THIAUMONT RE-CAPTURED. .....,..»■ i. h Ik ' ' Paris, July 2. I states: On the left bank„ of the Mouse the enemy made foul violet stacks' on both sides or Hill 304. Three'Were bloodily realised, but in the 1 ■fourth the Germans retook the fortified ! w : ork. Wo captured yesterday the trenches cast of Mill 304, and in our counterattacks regained everything on tho right bank. The desperate struggle for Thiaumonfc continued all day. Despite violent artillery fire, tho Germans succeeded in regaining the work after heavy losses, but our counter-attacks completely drove the enemy out again. THE GERMAN VERSION.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ARTIL-

LERY ACTIVITY. ATTACKS CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN REPULSED. London, July 1. A German wireless niesage states that repeated English and French reconnoitring attacks at many points whore repulsed by intense fire, gas attacks and mine explosions.

Fighting has appreciably increased on both sides of the Somme. Hie French attacks on Thiaumont failed, with severe losses.

Enemy aerial attacks on Lille did no military damage, but many civilians were killed, esepecially at the church of Saint Saveur, where tho killed and wounded exceeded fifty. Numerous French inhabitants were killed and

wounded at Douas, Bapaume, Pcronne and Nesle by the French and English gun-fire and aircraft bombs. FRICOURT CAPTURED. SUCCESS OF THE BRITISH. (Received 11.25 a.m.) London, July 2. Official.—The British have captured Fricourt, taking 3500 prisoners. HAIC REPORTS SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS.

(Received 11.35 a.m.) London, July 2. General Haig's afternoon bulletin reports substantial progress in the vicinity of Fricourt, which our troops captured by two o'clock in the afternoon. We captured eight hundred prisoners until midday during the operations between Ancre and Somme, making a total of 3500, including prisoners from othe** parts of tho front captured last night,

A BELGIAN OFFENSIVE.

OPERATIONS IN DIXMUDE REGION. (Received 9.0 a.m.) London, July 2. A Belgian communique .states: Wo ?an'iod out « destructive fire on the Jerman work* and batteries in the )ixniude region. HEARIMC THE GOOD NEWS. UTMOST ENTHUSIASM GENERAL. THE ENEMY ON TENTER-HOOKS. ANCLO-BRITISH PLANS UNDISTURBED.

BLOW SURPRISED THE GERMANS.

THE ADVANCE CONTINUES.

(Received 9..'10 a.m.) London. July 2

News of the Anglo-French offensive ,pread with astonishing rapidity. Peode repeated the magical word to each >ther, knowing that the hopes of many nonths were ncaring fulfilment. Passers-by told the good news to the :onvalescent and wounded on the balconies of the hospitals, and the soldiers and sailors were cheered; The lews was promptly conveyed to thea;res arid picture shows, and there was ;he utmost enthusiasm everywhere. Such mighty forces were accumular ,ed that the enemy were put on tile lefensive. Judging by the signs,' latterly tie Jermans were fully aware of General JoffreV and General Haig's preparations. The persistent and despera\ mslaught at Verdun was intended to '.isorganise the Anglo-French plan, mt General JofFro was not perturbed, >nd he declined to budge until eveiydiing was in readiness and the moment lad arrived promising every guarantee )f success. The direction the blow came Troin .vas- a complete surprise. The expelling of civilians from Lille by tin* •memy indicated the expectation that ihe chief effort from the British'centre vould be opposite Lens. An intense British' bombardment on i niriettl-roile front for a whole Week 'cept the enemy in such doubt regard:ng the objective that it was unsafe for him to modify his former disposition; hence, of eight hundredithousand Germans facing the British l lines not a single ljegiment wars withdrawn as reinforceme'nts for the other fronts. Those withdrawn were largely from the Champagne. The British and French are now advancing towards Bapaunie, an important centre, with main roads radiating to Albert, Peronne, Cambrai, and Arras.

The weather is fine , The British are strongly pressing the enemy at Fricofirt and Gommecoiirt, the latter being a mile nortJuvard of H^mtenid; ; " w : Vi'The Aries' 'lightning raid on Thursday night s'warmecftrendies within five minutes of the first concentration, kilting and wounding eighty. Their casualties wore slight. THE FRENCH SATISFIED. SENSATIONAL RESULTS NOT ANTICIPATED. WHERE THE INFANTRY CAME IN.

LOSSES SMALL COMPARED TO

GERMANS'.

BRITISH TAKE NO CHANCES.

PREPARATIONS FOR CENERAL ATTACK. (Received 10.15 a.m.) Paris, July 2. The- French military authorities are fully satisfied with the first results of the new tactics. They did not expect such sensational results, as the element of surprise was largely wanting. The last half hour's artillery preparation was of unsurpassed intensity. The French and British infantry attacks were then launched with the greatest gallantry, and they captured advanced defences in an hour and a half.

The entire Allied front advanced two kilometres on a front of forty kilometres before evening. The British and French losses wore small compared with the Germans, owing to careful preparation. The British took no chances. Where •the raiders reported that the wire

was not cut and the trenches were undamaged, the sector was subjected t-o further bombardment. The new tactics aim at a steady, continuous hammering of the line without unnecessary loss in the Allied lines umil it is possible iu launch u general attack.

POSITION IN NORTHERN FRANCE.

THREATENING THE GERMAN LINES. t (Received 9.0 a.m.) London, July 2. Our line of attack starts roughly on the outskirts of Arras, while the French battle-front on the right extends possibly beyond Royes. Tt is undulating and open wooded countryside, with only the usual roads and railways in an agricultural district : hence, the German defence is less advantangeously placed than iu other sectors. Military critics point out that there was nothing haphazard in the choice of the moment and place, nor an.\ mere chance of our offensive being coincident wth tho Russian and Italian thrusts. The Germans hitherto had not attempted serious fighting in this sector, because, unlike Ypres which offered the Channel ports, u did not offer any value. I A serious break of the Carman front will imperil the whole position in Northern France. Happily, cuttingout raids had familiarised us with intricacies of the defences.

HOT TIME AT VERDUN.

GERMAN ATTACKS REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSBLS, » FRENCH REPORT PROCRESB. THOUSANDS OF PRIBONERS TAKEN. (Received 10.35 a.m.) Paris, July 2. A communique states: The struggle at Mort Homme was fierce. At night the Germans violently attacked a new position in''the neighbourhood of Bardecourfc, but out curtain of infantry inflicted important losses, and the enemy fell back in disorder. I following up an advantage on the right bank of the Somme, we occupied the village of Curlti, where there was a lively combat, and we conserved our positions. South of the Somme, we progressed at night between Herbecourt and Assevillers, and affected numerous roconnaisanccs in the Champagne, clearing out the enemy trenches with grenades. The Germans launched an attack in the evening north-east of Boidavorcourt, and penetrated I our advanced elements, but in our counter-attack they were completely repulsed. We effected a coup do main on the eastern slopes of Mort Homme. Thu enemy made several, attacks on tlie Thiauraont work in which wes ' were established, but wo easily repulsed them. :

A strong party qi Germans hurled on our first line; )vis dispersed, the enemy suffering 1 heavy losses, and oyer five thousand tin wounded prisoners being captured. THE GERMAN WITHDRAWAL. FIRST LINE MATERIAL LOST. ADMISSION OF ALLIED SUPERIORITY.

(Times Servico.)

(Received 11.35 a.m.^ London, July 2

A German communique reports: A great Anglo-French offensive lias taken place on a twenty-five mile front. The, enemy made strong artillery and gas preparation but gained no advantages worth mentioning. From Commecourt to La Baiselle, the emy penetrated our first line in the region abutting the Somme, compelling a withdrawal of our division into pre-arranged positions. We lost the front line material which was immovable. Other attacks were unsuccessful.

FOUR VILLAGES LIBERATED.

BATTLE ON 30-MILE FRONT.

BRITISH HOLD OVER HALF.

(Iteceived .0.20 a.m. 1 *

Paris, July 2

lie Petit Parisian says: The Franco-? British offensive, which was launched in a brilliant fashion, seized the enemy's first defences. The French west of Pcrronne liberated four villages. The principal battle is develop-

ing on a sector of forty kilometres, of ntiioh the British are attacking on twenty-fire. There are numerous re-, eonnaissances elsewhere, especially in tho Loos sector.

ON THE YSER FRONT.

ASSISTANCE FROM BRITISH WARSHIPS. (Received 9.20 a.m.) Amsterdam, July 2. There is n violent artillery action on ,he Yser front, including heavy guniro from warships. These are believed to be British monitors, which are firing at the Germans across the dunes to render a German infantry advance vmpossible. ITALIANS CHEER THE UNION JACK. (Received 9.20 a.m.) Rome, July 2. The Italian press applauds the British success, and Union Jacks were generally hoisted on public and private •mildings. Large crowds cheered the Flag at the Embassy and elsewhere. GERMAN NIGHT ATTACK REPULSED. BRITISH CONSOLIDATING ALL GAINS. (Received 10.35 a.m.) London, July 2. The chief German attack on the British front at night in the region of \fonlauban was repulsed, with serious German losses. The British are consolidating all hoir gains.