In the West.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 83, 11 July 1916, Page 5

In the West.

I FRENCH SUCCESS AT FLAUCOURT. i Press Association— Copyright, Austraj lian and N.Z. Cable Association. Paris, July 9. j A communique states: The. French attacked a front, of four kilometres east of Flaucourt and carried the German positions along the whole line to a depth of two kilometres, i The French captured village 0Biaches, in front of Peronne, and established a position therefrom to the ioutshirts of Barleux.

GENERAL HAIG’S REPORT. THE FIGHT FOR TRONES WOOD. BRITISH MAKE PROGRESS. Press, Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z- Cable Association. (Received 9.40 a.m.) London, July 10. General Haig reports: Severe fighting for forty-eight hours centred on Trones Wood, which is triangular in shape, and measures four hundred yards from north to south, with the southern base of four hundred yards. It is strongly’ defended with trenches and entanglements. On the 18th, after a heavy bombardment, we captured the southern end of the wood, and subsequently extended our positions northward. We drove back a determined counter-attack with heavy enemy loss, in addition to crushing two further counter-attacks on Sunday afternoon. The enemy at eight o’clock in the evening bombarded the wood with all sorts of armaments, and hurled two strong attacks from the-south-east. The first was completely repulsed. The second penetrated the southern end of the wood, but the enemy was ejected with heavy loss.

APPROACHING PERONNE. FRENCH WITHIN THREE-QUAR-TERS OF A MILE. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ’ : ! Paris;- -iJdly 10. The French are within three-quar-ters of a mile of Peronne. .and Nandeau. THE FBEN Cvft M'Aliy • pROCR ESS s . FIGHTING IN THE VOSGES. v • a r 1 ; • (Received 9.15 a.ni.) Paris, July-10. A communique states: Continuing our progress at night, we’ captured a line of trenches between Barlenx and Maisonette. The prisoners in this sector now' reach 950. We captured a trench West of Butte des Mesuil on a front of Jive hum dred metres. . Enemy detachments attacked at three points, in the region of I -a Chappelotte, in the Vosges, but were Cut up 'and driven back by mitrailleuses; ’Wv < ■ <i. .. oJ •!

OFFICIALS NEWS.

The High Commissioner reports: — London, July 10 (3.30 p.m./

'During the past forty-eight hours there has been particularly severe fighting around Trones Wood. The wood is of triangular shape, 400 yards northwards and southwards, the base being similar. It is strongly defended by trenches and wire entanglements. On Saturday morning after a heavy bombardment, the British captured the southern end of the wood, subsequently extending their position northwards and drove back a determined counter* attack, the enemy in mass formation being crushed by our artillery fire. , In the evening, the enemy bombard ed the wood with various armaments. At eight o’clock two strong attacks were made from east and south-east. The first was completely repulsed. The second penetrated the southern end of the wood, but the enemy was immediately ejected with heavy losses.

The fifth desperate attempt was also completely crushed by fire.. The enemy’s casualties in these five fruitless attacks were severe. To the north-west of Contalmaison, we captured a small copse and three more guns, and this morning several hundred more prisoners. In Flanders, the enemy’s artillery

has been active. They heavily horn.bavded our trenches at Hoogo for tliree hours. In this .neighbourhood there ’were three successful raids into the German front line.

The High Commissioner reports London, July 10 (2.30 p.m.)

South of the Somme, the French, following up the progress of the night in the region of Barleux, took a line of German trenches between that village and Maisonette. The unwounded prisoners taken yesterday numbered 950.

The night was calm north of the Somme.

In the Champagne, there were two coups de main by the French west of Tabu re.

West of Butte de Mesnil, two attacks on a Gorman trench over a front of 500 metres made some prisoners. In the Argonno, reconnaissances penetrated Tour de Paris, and an ene-

my trench was destroyed with grenades . On the front north of Verdun, the bombardment has continued in the regions of Chattancourt, Floury, and La Lanioo. A strong enemy patrol was dispersed with grenade fire northwest of Floury. In the Vosges, the enemy detachments attacked positions in the region of La Chapelotte. Three points were sharply taken under (ire. The enemy was unable to penetrate and was completely repulsed. I NO AIR-RAID CASUALTIES. Loudon, July 10 (3.55 p.m.) 1 The War Office reports that both ol yesterday’s air raids were without ca amities.