In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 19, 21 August 1916, Page 5

In the West

THE WEEK’S OPERATIONS. WAY PREPARED FOR FURTHER PROGRESS. SAXONS DESERT TO THE ALLIES Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z, Cable Association. (Received 9.5 a.m.) London, August 19. A correspondent at Headquarters in France at the weekend says: The fighting has developed into one of the most important and successful battles in the Western offensive. Besides satisfactorily progressing towards the complete mastery of the ridge, wo captured one thousand prisoners and much material. Seveial formidably strong points were destroyed, and the way prepared for further progress. We were most successful in the neighbourhood of Leipzig Redoubt and Martihpuich. The enemy morale was badly shaken under the incessant punishment, and a whole squacf of Saxons deserted, feeling unable to face the music.

FLEURY WELL HELD. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. The High Commissioner reports:— London, August 20 (5.15 p.m.) The British official report yesterday states: We advanced the lines halfway to Guinchy and edge of Guillemont, where we hold the outskirts of tho village, including tho railway station and quarry, positions of considerable importance. The French official report states: On tho right of the Meuse, the enemy are greatly active. After several hours’ intense bombardment, tho Germans made different attempts to recapture Fleury, but all attacks were repulsed. At the same time, the enemy attacked our trenches north-west of tho Thiaumont work, where again our curtain of machine-gun fire inflicted a sanguinary check.

ENEMY SUFFERED GREAT LOSS AT FLEURY. 1 Press Association—Copyright, Austra- ' lian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.5 5a.m.) Paris, August 20. A communique states: Our fire repulsed all violent counter-attacks on Floury, which followed a prolonged intense bombardment. The enemy suffered great losses. ENEMY ATTACKS REPULSED. SUCCESSFUL BRITISH RAIDS. Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.35 a.m.) London, August 12. General Haig reports: There were bombing encounters last night at some points between the Somme and the Ancre, but the Germans did not make a serious attempt to recover the ground we captured on Friday. We successfully raided other parts cf the Hue and inflicted considerable casualties.

GERMAN ADMISSIONS. Press Association —Copyright. Published in “The Times.” (Received 12.20 p.m.) Loudon, August 20. A German communique states: Activity on the Somme has gradually decreased. Isolated British attacks north-west of Po/.ieres and tho Fourneaux road were repulsed. Eight British and four French divisions participated in an attack on the 18th. The loss of Eleury is admitted.