In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 100, 29 July 1916, Page 5

In the West

ANOTHER BRITISH POSSECCI3N. DELVILLE WOOD IN OUR HANDS. FURTHER PROGRESS AMD MORE PRISONERS. HEAVY ARTILLERY DUIILS. The High Commissioner reports:— London, July 28 (4.10 p.m.) General Hadg reports : After severe fighting, we drove the sth Brandenburg division from remaining-in positions in Dolville Wood, capturing three officers and 148 men. The whole wood

is now ours. Two German conuter-at tacks were beaten off with heavy los

Wo have further progressed in Longueval village, also near Pozieres, in the latter area capturing 48 wounded Germans.

During the night enemy guns were active against our new positions. There are also heavy artillery duels in various sectors. . Near Neuve Chappelle, small parties of Germans succeeded in entering our front trenches at two points, but were immediately driven out by counter-at-tacks, leaving wounded. North-east of Souchez, and also at other points, wo shelled the enemy's front and communication trenches.. FRENCH AND RUSSIANS REPULSE THE ENEMY. London, July 28 (3.10 p.m.} The French official report states: North of Chaulnes, an enemy attempt on our trenches near Lihons was repulsed by our fusilade. In the Champagne, in the region of Auberive, a reconnaissance by Russian troops penetrated and cleared out the enemy with trench-grenades, bringing back prisoners. On the right bank of the Meuse, -a German attempted attack on the Thiaumont work was completely checked.

DEATH OF STANLEY WOOTTON. Press Association—Copyright. Published in "The Times." (Received 9.45 a.m.) London, July 23. Lieutenant Stanley Wootton, the exjockey, who died of wounds received in France, had been awarded the military cross. RAILWAYS AND ROADS FOR MUNITIONS AND MEN. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11 a.m.) Paris, July 28.

A correspondent, who visited the Soimne front states that the AngloFrench troops have constructed one thousand kilometres of railways, and over one hundred stations for the transport of munitions, and one hundred miles of roads for motors to convey the troops.

HIGH PRAISE FOR THE ANZACS. "REVELLED IN THE FRAY." (Received 11 a.m.) London, July 28. An officer of one of the London regiments, who was wounded at Pozieres, says: The Anzacs bore the brunt of the gruelling, but we were always in line with them. They were like lions at large and revelled in the fray. They are great fellows and their example spurred us on at every turn and even face the deadliest machinegun fire. It was a sight to stir the blood to seo the Anzacs and Londoners stand up to the Kaiser's elite.

THE BRITISH SUCCESS.

GENERAL HASG'S REPORT.

NORTHWARD OF POZIERES. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. London, July 28. General Sir Douglas Haig states: Wo captured last night an important trench northward of the lino Pozieres-Bazentinle-LVtit, which had hitherto resisted all attacks. The Germans next morning regained complete possession. We immediately re-attacked and regained a footing at the southern end. We, after hard fighting, drove the Germans out of the east and northeast of Delville Wood, including Longueval, the northern part of which we regained. the trenches westward of the Ypresthetrenches westword of the YpresPilcken road, but were driven out. Further south, after an artillery bombardment, we raided their line and encountered the Germans' front entanglements. We killed thirty men and found many others dead in their trenches. Aviators are doing good work in locating batteries and new defences.

VIOLENT ARTILLERY WORK. ! Paris, July 28. ! A communique reports that cannonade continues along the entire front, being partis uhtrly violent ;t Floury, Fumin Wood, and Chcnois Wood, Three German aviators bombed Ciepy-en-rValois, killing a girl and wounding three women. , (Crepy-en-Yalois is a town of 010 J inhabitants in the Oise department o? 'France, 35 miles east of P-u-is),

THE POSITION AT POZIERES.

London, July 28. Correspondents at the British Headquarters detail tin- capture of the positions at Pozieres, which the Territorials, co-operating with the An'zacs, had taken with great difficulty. .They showed the utmost dash and 'staunchness in clearing the Germans out of the west of the village, whilst the An/.acs were attacking on the south-east. The ground was gridironed with enemy trendies, dotted strongly and fortified by machine-gun posts, in addition to being commanded from the trenches -before Pozieres and the high ground above Thiepval. The Territorials made a lot of ground the first night, and afterwards continually forged ahead, rushing every bit of trench and attacking the ma-chine-gun posts till they junctioned with the Anzacs at the top of the village on Tuesday evening. The British are now well established on the line whereto the second main push, which was begun on July 14, was directed.

Evidence is accumulating that the enemy have concentrated great quantities of guns and troops to oppose the next British move.

One correspondent continues: The capture of Pozieres distinctly improves the position. There are some who believe we are now through the Germans' most elaborate defences. The Germans doubtless arc feverishly working for miles behind, but they have no time to create anything like what they did in the past. I am well informed in saying we are not afraid of anything they can create, but they are enormously massed, entirely of infantry, which is now our most serious problem. The stubborn resistance at Pozieres ivas due to the Germans having picked troops. . It is reported that the Kaiser himself ordered that the British must be kept out at all costs. Over 200 machine-guns defended the approaches to Pozieres alone. Our bombardment destroyed most of these, and the remains must be scattered among the ruins, but thirty were captured in good condition. A German company in a small fort in the enure of the viilage was completely surrounded, but ( held out for twelve hours. When taken, only four men were alive. Sixty dead were heaped ono above another in a little armoured shelter.

A commander of a Bavarian battalion, which was defending the northwest of the village, realising that danger was menacing the garrison, ordered a retirement. The Bavarians were obliged to cross a lire-swept zone for 300 yards where.the British batteries decimated them.

The Westminster Gazette military correspondent states that the capture of Pozieres may prove to be a decisive ;step in the war. Pozieres and Lon'gueval command the main roads converging on Bapaume, whilst the Foureaux Wood commands the cross roati running between them. The capture enables our attack to gather weight and momentum in falling on the open agricultural country, requiring massed forces to resist its capture. Pozieres decides the crux of the battle in our favor.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. London, July 28. The Daily Mail's correspondent at Amsterdam reports that two divisions of infantry and four thousand Uhlans have left the Ghent district and proceeded southwards. There is a continuous stream of mon\and guns en route to the Somme. One hundred and fifty guns and two divisions traversed the Ghent railway, and for two days tho Germans suspended the passenger communication between Belgium and Holland. Most stringent restrictions have been imposed on tho inhabitants of Flanders and the north of Prance. it is believed that the majority of tho Belgian garrisons have been sent into the firing line. The captures at Pozieres include the windmill and cemetery.

The British have won twenty-four square miles on the Somme since the Ist of July.

With the capture of the windmill the Australians were only a few hundred yards from the highest point ol the plateau, which is a slightly more commanding position than that of Fouroaux Wood, .three miles to the eastward.