In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 33, 6 September 1916, Page 5

In the West

NEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. URTHER FIGHTING CONTINUES The High Commissioner reports: —• London, September 4 (11.55 p.m.) This morning the enemy countertacked on our newly-won position rth-west of Mauzuet Farm, but re easily repulsed. North of Falfemt Farm, we gained-further ground, irther fighting still continues. WITH THE FRENCH* XTREMELY BITTER COMBATS. CONQUERED GROUND MAINTAINED. STRONG GERMAN POSITIONS CAPTURED. MORE VILLAGES CAPTURED. ■ • THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS. The High Commissioner reports:— London,, yeptemuer 4 (2.30 a.m.) The French otticially report that the title they are engaged in continued hday on both banns of the Somme ith extreme bitterness at North ver. fc We occupied a ridge at West hrrieres Wood. Violent counter-at-icks on our new positions at South ombles were broken by machine-gun id curtain fire, indicting heavy •sses. All the ground we conquered hs entirely maintained. The total risoners taken at North Somme in vo days was 2500, and we captured in more machine-guns. On the South Somme, we attacked lemy organisations on a twentyilometre front between Barrie ux disict and South Chaulnes. Everywhere, the bravery of our ■oops and the strength of our artillery aabled us to obtain our objectives, n the Barrie ux front, we carried the rst line of trenches, and seized the jproaches to the outskirts of Bemy, »ar Deniecourt. Vve captured the bole village of Boyecourt. Further south, after a violent comit, our infantry captured feui kiloetres of the first positions of the irmer German front, comprising ery strongly organised lines of dcmce. Wo occupied the whole village of hilly and a portion of Vermandovilirs. ", Our artillery caught scattered oncly droops ou the march. The total umber of unwounded prisoners that ■e took south of the Somme to-day sceeds 2700. At East Germans lunched a very atack on our ositions at Cheuois Wood, gaining a Kiting in our .trenches, but were imlediately driven out by our couuterfctacks. BAD WEATHER FOR BATTLE. London, September 5 (2.55 p.m.) The French official report states iat bad weather is unceasing ou the omme. A German counter-attack a Anderleu failed with heavy enemy

losses. South of the Somme, the Germans’ attempt to regain a point on a front eastward of Belloy en Santcrro was repelled, and wo took 100 prisoners. ANZACS BEAT PRUSSIAN GUARDS. London, September 5. The Morning’s Post correspondent at headquarters states that the first battalion of the Prussian Guard defended Mouquet farm during Sunday’s battle. Thet Anzacs showed irresistible dash, despite an infernal fire, surrounded the farm, and fully attained their objective. The Post states that the Anzacs were soon in and beyond Mouquet farm, which was merely a jumbled heap of rubble and charred wood. The Anzacs are now all round the farm. Many Prussians fled rather than face a stand-up fight at close quarters. All the prisoners, wounded and uuwcunded, of the First Prussian Guard in Sunday’s battle were Anzacs’ captures. Prior to the Auzac advance the British artillery terrifically shelled the enemy’s positions. The Germans responded with great vigor. The Anzacs leapt over their parapets at dawn, and faced not only the shell fire, but also the cross lire from the machine-guns. Yet, with irresistible dash, they gained the enemy’s lines, although, as a wounded Anzac said, “the infernal machine-guns seemed all round us!” by using bombs, machine-guns and rifle fire they killed quite a large number of Bosches. Mr Philip Gibbs reports that it is confirmed tire Australians at Mouquet farm defeated Germany’s best troops, the first Prussian Guards Mid reserves.

DETAILS OF THE ANZAC ATTACK. "HUGGER-MUGGER” FIGHTING. Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.35 a.m.) London, September 5. Mr Philip Gibbs states. One of the most valucable factors in the British advance on Sunday was the Anzac attack on Mouqucb Farm. The men knew the ground intimately. They had already exploded the ruins of the farm by a strong patrol some days ago, and wore confident they could do the same thing again, though the site might he difficult to hold against hostile fire. Nowhere was there level ground but shell holes ueie everywhere, some being lull of water and mud. The men plunged in up to their armpits and many got hogged. There were really no trenches to be taken, the Germans merely holding lines of the she), -craters, in which machine-gun had been placed. 'J he enemy were scattered In isolated groups with stores of bombs. It ivas extraordinarily difficult to attack such a position because there was no definite line. The Australians encountered horrible spasms ol machine-gun fire from unknown quarters on both sides and even behind. By the time the farm was reached, the battle was broken. There were many separate encounters between small parties ol Australians and Prussians. Despite "hugger-mugger” lighting, the Australians pushed forward, and advanced parties entered the farm and got 200 beyond, though nothing remains on the farm higher than a man. Ihe enemy had the usual dugouts and tunnels siriifigly ' phou'cted with timber and ccmuut.

FURIOUS FIGHTING ON THE SOMME. j Paris, September ■>. 1 A communique reports: iho l>:i Lll f wherein the French and British arc engaged on both sides oJ the Somme was continued all day with extreme fury. We Uir.do substantial progress eastward of Lc Forest, passed Hospital farm, and occupied the hill westward of Marrieres "Wood. \ iolent attacks oil our now positions southward of Comities were shattered by machine-gun and curtain fire, with [very heavy enemy losses. All the conquered ground has been retained. French troops attacked enemy organisations over a twenty kilometre frontage between Bnrlenx and southward of Chaules. On the BarleuxDenicourt front we captured the first line of trenches, and occupied the appi Gaelics to Bery and the outskirts northwards of Demconrt, which a brilliant assault northward and southeastward of Forecourt enabled ns to ■capture. At Fnitrccty, further south between Vermandvillers and Chilly, after a violent struggle our infantry 'carried four kilometres of the first Iposition of the former German front, [comprising several strongly organised {lines of defence.

| The whole village of Chilly was captured. We occupied Hill 8G to the eastward, also the western outskirts of Chatlines Woods. We hold a portion of Vermandvillers and now surround it north and south. We added another hundred yards to Sunday’s gains eastward of Fleury. A powerful enemy attack on the positions at Chengis Wood carried a small fort on the Vaux road and some trenches westward, but a brilliant counter-attack enabled us to ro-occupy the whole ground. Upwards of five hundred unwounded prisoners were captured in the Fleury districts on Sunday and Monday. EAST OF CUILLEMONT. ALLIED SUCCESSES CONTINUE. Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.15 a.m.) London, September 5. General Haig states; We are now fifteen, hundred yards eastward c*f ( Guillomont and have obtained a fooling in Lcn/.e Wood. We captured the whole defence on a 1000-yard front at Fallemont. Since Sunday we have captured the whole of the remaining enemy second line at Monquet Farm junction. French prisoners exceed 1000. Fighting continues at Ginchy.

BRITISH REPORT FURTHER GAINS. The High Commissioner reports London, September 5 (3.30 p.m.) The British oilieitl report says;•Cur gains at Guillemout were increased during the night despite desperate insistence. For 150 yards to the eastwards we have obtained a footing in Leuze AVood. Southwards, the whole of the enemy’s strong system of defeue on a front of 1000 yards at Fallemont is ours. The whole oi the enemy remaining second line of defence from Mouquet Farm to the point oi our junction with the French is ours.