Second Edition In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 25, 28 August 1916, Page 6

Second Edition In the West

THIEPYAL DOOMED.

allied troops advance.

Press Association—Copyright, Australian'and N.Z. Cable Association.

(Received 11.10 a.in.) London, ‘August 28. Mr Gibbs says: The doom of Thiepval is near at hand. After a series of sharp,,attacks and short rushes, >ve found our way across a tangled web of trenches and redoubts. The troops have bitten off the nose of the Liepzig, salient and have taken Hindenburg -.trench, which is almost the last defensive work barring the, way to the. southern entrance of the village fortress. We advanced east and west and have thrown a lassoo around the strong hold on a hill, whence the garrison had only one way to escape. Where our guns could get af them. ■ they, wore death traps. Nothing of the village was left.,hut heaps of, rubbish. Wave after wave of Britishers swarmed up the ridge in Ihuisdav’s remarkable advance, which not even the fiercest German barrage checked. Onward and upward, scattered parties swept straight to the infernal > fires,,’, and ;• all..behind and all in "front shells, were bursting, raising enormous .„ fantastic . .plopds?/ thaxdvihd drifted the asmoke awayy sfofnie .of" our men were seen on the highest ground.';• Sjpglc figures, who appeared black,- against the sky, jumped into the German •' trenches, , and after a terrific boinu fight there sue!--denly emerged ,a crowd of figures leaping rqnnjng.,, Tjiey were; Gertrying.jto. reach our trendies, so as to-surrender and gei some cover from their own shells. 'The fire of the , assaulters meapwhile,held the oon- \ the iron

; HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING. /. • Press Association —Copyright, -Australian and N.Z. Cabk Association. London, August 28. A- : - Gornpin commhnique states'. Repeated British attacks' southward ; of : ahd northward of Pozieres *f‘ were repulsed after desperate hand-to-hand'fighting. The enemy attacks northward of Bazentin, Le Pitit, and unsuccessful; so also were the' fresh httacks with strong forces on the Maurepas-Clery sector. The enemy penetrated our lines northward- of Clary hut were ejected. Our fire broke attacks at Thiaumont and Fleury: y ■ W& downed seven aeroplanes.