FRENCH AT PERONNE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 12 July 1916, Page 3

FRENCH AT PERONNE.

WITHIN LESS THAN A MILE. STILL MAKING PROGRESS. PARIS, July 10. The French are within three-quarter of a mile of Peronne. A communique states: We are continuing to make progress. During the night we captured a line of trenches between Barleux and Marsonette. The west of Battes de Mesnil, with a front of 500 metres. Enemy detachments attacked three points in the region of a Chappelette, in the Vosges. The)/ were cut up. General Haig sa/,s that on the nig-ht of the sth a deserate attempt was completely repulsed. .We captured a small Copset northwards of Contalmaiscn, also three guns and several hundred prisoners.

General Haig reports that there has been severe lighting during the last forty-eight hours. The battle centred on the Trones Wood, which is of triangular shape and measures lour aunwith trie southern base of four hundred yards strongly defended with entrenchments an entanglements, un t-:it eighth, after a hea\y bombardment, we captured the southern end of the wood. Subsequently we extended the position northward. (We drove back a determined counterattack with heavy enemy losses, in addition to crushingtwo further counter attacks on Sunday afternoon. The enemy at eight in the evening bombarded ihe Wood with ah strong attacks from tue south-east, iht first was completely repulsed. The second penetrated the southern'end of the wood, but wa s ejected with heavt loss. General Haig says later on in the w s completely crushed. The enemy a losses on Ave attacks were severe. Enemy artillery is active ;n Flanders and heavily bombarded trenches near Hooge for three hours. We thrice successfully raided the enemv's front line.