In the West

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 35, 8 September 1916, Page 5

In the West

! NIGHT ATTACK REPULSED.

FIGHTING CONTINUES AT

GINCHY.

The High Commissioner reports:— i London, Sept. 7 (2,0 p.m.) I The British officially report .that under cover of daiknesti the enemy coun-ter-attacked a* Leuzo Wood, and alter | hand-to-hand fighting, the Germans were driven hack, leaving nineteen prisoners. Fighting at Ginchy ' con- ; tinues. I t FRENCH REPULSE GERMANS. i PROGRESS ON RIGHT OF MEUSE. i The High Commissioner reportsLondon, Sept. 7 (3.15 p.m.) The French officially report a strong German attempt to dislodge | them from Hospital Farm on the 'lforth of the Somme was dispersed with heavy losses to the enemy. On the south of the Somme, German attempts to reach positions south-west of Eelloyen Santerre, also south of Barleux failed, and we took 400. prisoners. On the right bank of the Meuse, after artillery preparation, we captured the first line of 1500 metres on the Vaux-Chapitro-Cheiiois front, taking 250 prisoners and ten machine-guns.

ANGLO-FRENCH BOMBARDMENT. Press Association—Copyright, Auswalian and N.Z. Cable Association. Amsterdam, September 7. Correspondents emphasise the terrific character of the Anglo-French bombardment. The Berliner Tageblatt says it, was the, maddest gunfire the world had ever experienced. Never anywhere have guns been brought together in such masses a s in front of Maurepas. Clearly the enemy attempted to cover ever inch of the German lines with shells, fighting with nothing else. It was brutal money wherewith be bought his shells. General Gallwitz, the German army chief on the Somme, said: "We may lose our projecting points, but they will never break through."

FRENCH FURTHER ADVANCE. Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association Paris, September 7. A communique reports : Desperate fighting continues in the Chilly district. The French captured the northern position at Vermandovillers. A spirited attack enabled us to carry the major portion oi Berny-en-Santerre, also the first line of the outskirts of Chaulnes, and also along the Chaul-nes-lloye railway. ALLIES CAINS ADMITTED. London, September 6. A German communique says: There i s undiminished intensity in the battle on both sides of the Somme. Twenty-eight Anglo-French divisions (560,000 men) were engaged. The enemy gains of ground were small. Clery remains his: We maintain our first position against a fresh French attack at Barleux to the south of Chilly. Up to last night, south of the Somme, we took 1468 prisoners. REPRISAL CAMPS ABANDONED. Paris, September 7. As the result of Germany's negotiations with France it has been agreed to abandon reprisal camps, notably in Courland and Poland, and to return French prisoners to ordinary war camps.

THE GERMANS' SECOND LINE. EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE IT IMPREGNABLE. (Received 9.30 a.m.) Press Association—Copyright. Published m "The Times." London, September 7. A correspondent with Headquarters reports that since the Germans selected their main second line oh the ridge between the Somme and Moquet Farm, they have spared no effort to render it impregnable. They believe that in the future militarists will regard its capture as a greater achievement than any accomplished by an army. ANGRY GERMAN PAPER. "WORK FOR BUTCHERS." HEAR THE BOSCHES SQUEAL! Press Association—Copyright. United Sorvice. (Received 9.30 a.m.) London, September 7. The angrily declares that the Franco-British methods arp not warfare, but butchery. After the trenches were battered by bombardment, the infantry advanced to work which would bo a suitable mission for butchers.

IMPORTANCE OF ALLIED CAINS. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 8.55 a.m.) London, September 7. Mr Gibbs, in stressing the importance of the gains since Sunday, says: Xow that we have gained the cres, 'even if the offensive halted to-day which it won't—our. men's winter 'position is enormously-superior to the enemy's. Further, we liave straightjened an awkward salient, and if we take Ginchy and Thiepval, we will be well placed. SOMME STRUGGLE PROMISES WELL. THE ANGLO-FRENCH ADVANCE. C?.,000 TRISQNERS IN TWO MONTHS. Press Association—Copy right, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 8.55 a.m.) Paris, September 1. ..' Each day the Somme struggle grows in promise of achievement, and the moment seems near when the local fighting will give results of more than local importance. Already the Allies imminently threaten an extremely useful road parallel to the front between Bapaume, Peronne, and Koyer. The British are under two miles from the road and the latest French advance brings them within a few hundred yards. French artillery sweeps the Peronne-Bapaume sector, and it is difficult to see how tho enemy's heavy guns on Mount St. Queutin, north of Peronne,are going to get their supplies. The capture of portion of Anderlu Wood would be valuable, as the Avood is stated to be on the'sheltered, side of a ravine which the Germans are in the habit of utilising as an assembling point for count-er-attacks, but the result has only been to increase the German losses.' They are fighting with plenty of spirit, but tho French artillery shows an equal increase in quality and quantity. The growing number oi prisoners is a pleasing portent. The total taken by the French on the Somme since the Ist of July is 42,000. The capture of Ommiecourt was a fine achievement. The Colonial division with splendid dash took the village in forty minutes, cutting off half a battalion, whose retreat was barred by a railway level crossing, and all surrendered.

GERMANY USES GAS AND LACHRYMATORY SHELLS. Press Association— Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.30 a.m.) London, September 7. General Haig reports: Under cover of darkness, the Germans coun-ter-attacked at Leuz Wood, but in hand-to-hand fighting, they were repulsed. Fighting at Ginchy continues. There is considerable artillery work on both sides. The Germans during the night were using ga s and lachrymatory shells. CLOSING IN ON CHAULNES. WINNING BACK FRENCH TERRITORY. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. ,Cable Association. (Received' 11.55 a.m.) Paris, September 7. The French advance has almost enclosed Chaulnes. Since July 1, 29 French localities have been freed by the Anglo-Fron< : h troops. ENEMY FRONT OF 1500 METRES CAPTURED. (Received 11.45 a.m.) \ Paris, September 7. A communique states: We broke up many attacks against our new positions south-west of Belloyen Santerre and South Barleaux. After stern artillery preparation, we attacked last night on a front from Vauk and Chapitro Wood to Le-Che-uois, and took the whole first line on a front of 1500 metres.