SPLENDID PROGRESS MADE

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 156, 5 July 1916, Page 5

SPLENDID PROGRESS MADE

ADVANCE OF ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MILES. IMPORTANT POLITICKS j TAKEN. ■ [ BIG HAUL OF QUNSI i PRISONERS WON EXCEED 8000. Received 103-0 p.m., July 4. PARIS, July 3. A communique says: North, of the Somme the position is .unchanged; We followed up our success east of Mereaueprt, .wood and captui’ed Chapel re wood ; and the village of Fuillere. Our infantry. after a brilliant assault captured Assevillers, the centre of a powerful German defence organisation. Southward of Assevillers we took the second German position as far as the approaches of Estrees. During the afternoon we got beyond the second position and captured Buscourt east of Fuilleres and Plauccurt. At this point the territory captured by us reached a depth of live kilometres.

We dispersed enemy detachments in the region of Belloyensanterre, cast of Plaucourt. The material captured includes seven batteries (three of large calibre guns), machine-guns and trench guns.

The unwounded prisoners exceed SO 00.

lit is evident that the French, by capturing ground to a depth of five kilometres, have made a valuable advance. Though actual mileage is no criterion of future success, it is interesting to note that the French are within five miles at one point, and less than three at another, from Peroune, a very important railway and road junction. Further south the French are within about three milbs of the railway running through Peronne and connecting - with important, points in various directions.]