NEW ARTILLERY HURRIED UP.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 155, 4 July 1916, Page 5

N EW ARTILLERY HURRIED UP.

GERMAN SECOND LINE TAKEN. BRITISH MAKE IMPORTANT CAPTURES. MAMETZ AND FRICOURT TAKEN. MAXIMUM GERMAN LOSS INFLICTED. GERMAN TRENCHES OBLITERATED. A SUCCESSFUL BATTLE CONTINUES.

AN ANZAC RAID.

A BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENT,

Received July 4, 10.10 a.m

London, July 3

A United Service correspondent, referring to an Anzac. raid on Thursday, states that the storm of artillery fire seemed to concentrate on one spot; two long minutes it paused, then flashed forth again less fiercely. It was here the Anzaes rushed on a raid, and within five minutes reached the first concentration of the enemy. They carried out their work with wonderful rapidity and returned successful.

FURTHER FRENCH ADVANCE

GERMAN SECOND LINE CAPTURED deceived July 4, 10.10 a.m. Paris, July 3. A communique states: We occupied on Sunday night, on a front of five kilometres, two lines of the Gorman second position, from Bois de Mereancourt to Asse.villtrs, including the village of Hcrbeco,

THE WESTERN OFFENSIVE.

PRESS VIEWS OF FIGHTING. 1 THE POSITION IS FAVORABLE. Received July 4, 10.10 a.m. . Paris, July 3. eulogises the brDliant*ash of Scottish regiments, which, General Haig mentions, traversed three . lines of trenches, entering Mont Auban, where they slew' hundreds with the bayonet. The Petit . Journal says the general result of the present offensive is the capture of the first and second German lines over a vast area between Mont Auban and Assevillers. The success is more, because the British have captured Mametz and Fricourt. Military critics emphasise the need of continued caution, and to be sparing in lives until a general break through is possible, meanwhile forcing action only where decisive superiority is assured of inflicting the maximum loss on the enemy with a minimum on ourselves. M. Marcel Hutin, in the Echo de Paris, says the- British progress is slower than the French, but this is due to the difficulty of their ground. The Allies are engaged in a lengthy operation, -wherein there was plenty of work for artillery before the attack. It is gratifying that the haul of prisoners, besides the strategic result obtained, was not paid for too dearly. The Germans facing the British have multiplied counter-attacks all day and night,, buA they are being sanguinarily rePulfed. Altogether the situation is favorable.

THE DEVIL OUT-DEVILLED.

A GERMAN COMPLAINT. AGAINST BRITISH GAS. Received July 4, 10.10 a.m. Berne, July 3. The Crown Prince of Bavaria commands the army opposing the British offensive. German newspapers protest against the British using gas that is deadlier than the German variety.

BERLIN IN PANIC

NEW ARTILLERY GONE WEST. THE KA4£EE ALSO GONE. SPECIAL NEWSPAPERS ISSUED. i Eeeeived July 4, 10.10 a.m. London, July 3. ThADaity Telegraph states that there 33 pKic in Berlin; troop trains of all available new artillery have gone to the west, and the Kaiser is also going, are issued to re- j people. ,

THE FRENCH FRONT.

FURTHER PROGRESS MADE,

NEW TERRITORY CAPTURED

GUNS AND PRISONERS TAKEN

Received JuJy 4, 9.40 a.m

Paris, July 3

A communique states: The enemy was defensively organised at Horbocourt, which we seized after a brilliant fight. We set fire to fifteen German captive balloons during the offensive. Our aeroplanes were masters throughout, only nine enemy machines being seen, and none crossed our lines.

The Germans at 3.30 in the morning started a violent bombardment and launched a strong attack against Damloop work, on the right bank of the Meuse* and took possession, but our counter-attack immediately hurled the enemy back and we recaptured the work. The enemy, north of the Somme, did not attempt a night attack on the newly Avon positions. The figfiht was continued south of the Somme, with complete success. On the northern and western outskirts of Assevillers -our troops made considerable progress, and north of the villages of Estress, Assevillors and Mort Homme prisoners were, taken to an unknown number; heavy guns were also captured during later actions. We have already identified ,39 German battalions in front of the French attack, whereof prisoners state that 31 sustained the heaviest losses arid were completely disorganised. Most of-the prisoners are very young; they state that our artillery was extremely effective; it not only annihilated defensive organisations, but obliterated al? lateral communications, rearward and rendered control of troops and feeding impossible.

HOW THE NEWS SPREAD.

SOLDIERS AND BAILORS

JUBILANT,

Received July 4,9.3 Q a.m

London, July 3

The news .of; The Anglo-French offensive spread with astonishing rapidity. People repeated the magical words to each other, knowing the hopes of many months were nearing fulfilment, and such mighty forces had been accumulated that the enemy was put on the defensive, A passer-by told the good news to convalescent woundeds on balconies and at hospitals. Soldiers and sailors cheered. It was also promptly screened in theatres and picture shows. There is the utmost enthusiasm everywhere. Judging from signs, the Germans latterly were fuly aware of the preparations of General Joffre and General Haig, and the persistent and desperate onslaught at Verdun was intended to disorganise the Anglo-French plan. General Joffre was not perturbed; he declined to budge until everything was in readiness and the moment had arrived promising every guarantee for success. The direction the blow came from was a complete surprise. The enemy's expelling civilians from Lille indicated expectation of the chief effort from the British centre opposite Lens. An intense British bombardment over a DO miles front for a whole week kept the enemy in such doubt regarding the objective thal it was not safe for him to modify his former dispositions. Hence, of 800,000 facing the British lines, not a single regiment was withdrawn as reinforcements for other

fronts, those withdrawn being largely from the Champagne. The British and 1 roueh are advancing towards Ba- ' paume, an important centre, main roads radiating to Albert, Peronne, Cambrai, and Arras. The weather is tine and the British are strongly pressing the enemy at Fricourt and Gommecourt. The latter is a mile northward of Lebute-ren. The Anzacs made lightning raids on Thursday night and swarmed a trench within live minutes of the first concentration, hilling and wounding eighty. Their casualties were slight.