BRITISH NEAR COMBLES

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 7 September 1916, Page 5

BRITISH NEAR COMBLES

FURTHER VITALLY IMPORTANT ADVANCE * NO WISH TO BREAK HUN LINE 0 <• \ WHOLE SECTOR MUST GO BACK MATTERS MOVE RAPIDLY IN GREECE THE GREEKS TAKING A HAND ROUMANIANS FULLY POSSESS DOBRUDJA FRENCH MAKE ENORMOUS CAPTURES

ANOTHER BRITISH ADVANCE. ~ HALF MILE FROM COMBLES. . U LEWZE WOOD OCCUPIED. (Eecd. 9.12.) LONDON, Sept. 6. The British officially report having gained the whole of Leuze wood, but fighting still continues between the wood and Combles which is only about a mile away, also around Ginchy. We successfully discharged gas opposite Gommeoourt. " FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. GERMAN COUNTERS ALL REPULSED. (Reed. 9.12.) LONDON, t 6ept. 6. The French officially report no reaction at night on the north of the Somme. At the south of the Somme the Germans attacked the new French positions, south of Deniecourt and also near Bernyensanterre, ( but all were broken by curtain fire, v,, A German attack at Finery failed under machine gun fire, ON THE SOMME FRONT. WHAT THE FRENCH HAVE DONE. STEADY INEXORABLE PRESSURE. THE SECTOR MUST GO J,j OLD-FASHIONED GERMAN METHODS. * (Received 9.20) NEW YORK, Sept. 6. The “New York Times’ ” correspondent visited the Somme front. He says in a two days’ battle the French inflicted a crushing defeat on the flower of the German forces. They stormed what Germans claimed to be impregnable fortifications with the minimum of losses to their own side and caused 50,000 German casualties. The correspondent asserts that Germans are trying to fight the war on lines originally laid down, but the French have adopted their tactics to the changed conditions. As a result, since July the French have advanced along a fifteen mile front to a depth of from five to ten miles, and are holding] and strengthening the captured ground. They are not trying to break through the German line, but are exerting steady, inexorable pressure, before which the whole sector will eventually be forced to give way. THE DESTROYED ZEPPELIN. LONDON, Sept. 5. At the inquest on the Zeppelin victim's, evidence was given that shrapnel: from anti-aircraft guns was seen bursting around. In a few minutes the Zeppelin burst into flames, but it was stated that if the aeroplane had been absent the Zeppelin would have escaped. There was nothing whereby to identfy the corpses. A verdict was returned that the Zeppelin was “downed” by an aeroplane piloted by Lieut. Robinson. The Coroner announced that the vie tims would be accorded a military funeral at the nearest cemetery. ROBINSON’S DARING DEED. LONDON, Sept. 6. Lieut Robinson was scouting when searchlights revealed the Zeppelin. He followed the * invader for twenty minutes and signalled the anti-air-craft guns to stop firing. The intrepre: airman narrowly escaped the flaming J debris after dropping the fatal bomb. | Lieut. Robinson is 21 years of age, and was bom in India. He obtained his certificate last year. He visited the wreckage after his feat, and was •. L * presented with an Iron Cross found therem. Lienßobinson earned £3500 in prizes for downing the first Zeppelin in Britain. The.inquest disclosed that the members of the crew, were very young, V

THE RECENT BATTLE. MOST BRILLIANT SINCE OFFENSIVE BEGAN. 7000 PRISONERS CAPTURED. ■'GERMANS LOSE MOST VALUED POSITIONS. FRENCH HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SOUTH OF THE SOMME. LONDON, Sept. 5. The Anglo-French military experts regard the battle on Sunday and Monday as the most brilliant since July lst < Seven thousand prisoners were captured. Even Von Hindenburg,. who had just completed an inspection of the Somme front, describes the battle as on a great scale of great violence. Von Hindenburg’ s frenzied reception on the Somme put new spirit into the defenders, but they were unable to cope with the British doggedness and the French dash. Unlike July Ist, there was no clement of surprise. Owing to the forced lull due to bad weather, Von Gallwitz was able to bring up considerable reinforcements of troops and material. The Germans even attempted to forestall the Allied attack, but were ignominiously defeated. The weather twice forced the An->glo-Fronch commanders to postpone operations. The advance commenced on a front of 18| miles as the crow flies, and 29J miles as the trenches run. The British attacked at dawn,, and the French at midday. Five hours later every objective had been gained. The capture of Guillemont means the taking of the greatest German stronghold on the Somme, with Thiepval as the key position of the German line. The Fifth Brandenburg Division, which made its name at Douamont, defended the Guillemont sector foot by foot. A detachment held out in a small fort on the Combles road until their ammunition was exhausted. The British found ten defenders alive. The Germans made desperate efforts to recover their losses. Six counterattacks were broken by Allied machine guns. The situation is still more satisfactory on the French front than, the British. The greatest difficulties were in the Thiepval region, where German communiques continue to record fullblooded infantry attacks. These reports are untrue. Since the failure of the attack north of the Ancre, early in July, Sir Douglas Haig has refrained from frontal attacks on Thiepval, grudging the loss of life and being content with a flank advance, which will eventually force the Germans in Thiepval to surrender. , The recent British operations aimed at turning the position at Beaun Onthamel. According]}’- they advanced on the road running west along the edge of Thiepval. This advance is still blocked by field works near Mouquet Farm. Until these are taken the Germans hold Thiepval. Sir. Douglas Haig opines that nothing can be gained by extending the bulge at Highwood until the rest of the line has advanced, but the capture of Guillemont was essential. It was the most conspicuous success since the Australians captured Pozieres. A particularly brilliant episode was the capture of Falfemont Farm, standing on a spur overlooking and commanding Combles. Its seizure greatly strengthens the French position, while the capture of Glory paves the way for crossing the Somme towards Pcronne. GERMAN WAR LOAN. LITTLE PUBLIC RESPONSE. (Received 11.30.) AMSTERDAM, Sept. (5. . The chief subscribers to the German war loan are savings banks and munition firms. The total for the first two days is far below that of previous loans. The general pnblis are subscribing little.

INTERNED BRITSHERS. IN GERMAN PRISON CAMPS. A SYDNEY MERCHANT’S EXPERIENCE. (Received 9.20.) NEW YORK, Sept. 6. William Simpson, a Sydney merchant, has arrived at New York en route to Australia. He spent eighteen months in the prison camp at Ruhelebeu. When he left a few weeks ago there were still more than 4000 there, many of 65, and even, 70 years’ old, not released because they had been shipmasters or marine engineers. Simpson travelled from Ruhleben with five others in a horse box ten feet square, with damp, filthy straw on the floor. Prisoners were treated harshly, fish was often putrid, and other food coarse and unwholesome. When two patients escaped from the hospital, others were forced to walk through the snow to the horse boxes, when three deaths occurred through exposure. THE MUNITION BUSINESS. COMPREHENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS PROCEEDINGS. (Received 9.20.) LONDON. Sept. 6. The "Daily Mail” states that negotiations are proceeding with a view of establishing a working agreement involving most of the arms and ammunition businesses in the United United Kingdom, with an aggregate capitalisation of thirty millions, the object being to place the British industry in a powerful position in the world’s trade after the war. TERRIBLE SUFFERING IN MACEDONIA. PERSECUTION BY BULGARIANS. WOMEN AND CHILDREN SAVED BY BRITISH DESTROYER. (Received 9.20) ■ ■ ATHENS, Sept. 6. The terrible conditions of the population in eastern Macedonia is instanced by a Greek sailor. While navi ; gating inshore he heard cries and discovered two hundred women and children, who appealed to be carried to Thasos. The skipper accommodated as many as possible. Bulgarians appeared and ordered them to disembark. A British destroyer in the nick of time dashed up, opened fire, routed the Bulgarians and saved the refugees GREEKS GET TO WORK. CLEARING OUT PRO-GERMANS. VON SCHENK MUST GO. (Received 9.20) ATHENS, Sept. 6. The Allies are discontinuing arrests and are leaving the Greek authorities to carry out the anti-espoinage measures in accordance with Greek lav/. That Von Scenk is in the same position as the others is untrue, as he went to the British Legation. THE BRITISH SQUADRON. . WILL REMAIN AT PIRAEUS. . FOR REMAINDER OF WAR. EVACUATION OP TRANSYLVANIA. TURKS ARRIVED—NO GERMANS. (Received 11.30) ROME, September 6. A wireless states that the entire squadron will remain at Piraeus ror the duration of the war. They are lay ing minefields to protect the entrance. Austrians have already evacuated one third of Transylvania, where a few Turkish troops have arrived, but no Germans. It is learned in Switzerland that Ger many lost two super-Zeppelins. THE TRANSYLVANIA INVASION. EFFECT ON TURKEY. LONDON, Sept. 5. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Milan correspondent says Roumania’s action tvaroused the advocates of a separate peace in Constantinople. The Grancs Council was called, but the pro-Ger-mans predominated and passed a resolution that Turkey remain faithful to the Central Powers. The pro-Ger-mans insisted that it was vital to Turkey’s future destiny to prevent a junction of the Russians and British in Mesopotamia, and to prevent the Russians and Roumanians from cutting communications with Germany. The new situation has produced a panic in Constantinople. The Government, to create a diversion, ordered a hunt for Armenians. A proclamation was read to the soldiers declaring that the Roumanians would soon be wiped cut and overrun by fire and sword. The former principalities of Moldavia and Wallaehia will be re-annexed to the Ottoman Em-| pire, ' j

A ROUMANIAN REPORT. ALL DOB’RUDJA IS HELD OTHER ATTACKS REPULSED. (Received 11.30) LONDON, Sept. 6. A Roumanian communique states; Wehold the whole Dobrudja frontier. We repulsed an attack southward of The battle continues on the remainder ,of the frontier. The enemy bombarded Islac and Calafat, upon the Danube. Three hydroplanes bombed Constanza and wounded several children. FIGHTING AROUND COMBLES. | BRITISH ATTACK AT YPRES. ! (Received 11.30) j LONDON, Sept. 6. General Haig reports: We captured the whole of Leuzewood, and successfully gas attacked 1 Gonunecourt. Fighting continues between Lueze Wood and Combles, also round Ginchy. Both artillery’s are active north and southward of Pozieres and Moequet Farm. We effectively shelled hutments in Polygon Wood, eastward of Ypres. .BRITISH ADVANCE CONTINUES. POSITION FURTHER STRENGTHENED. LONDON, Sept. 5. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We continue to advance. We arc fully in possession of all ground between Falfemout Farm and Leuze wood, and between the latter and the outskirts of Ginchy. Tuesday’s fighting further strengthened our position at Leuse wood, whereof we hold the greater part. THE FRENCH REPORT. IMPORTANT SUCCESSES RECORDED. 0650 PRISONERS SINCE SUNDAY. LONDON, Sept. 5. A French communique says: We made important progress eastward of Le Forest and north-eastward of Glory. We also captured the village of Om■misfourt* /thus 'pick fug jup positions north and south of the Somme. We repulsed repeated massed attacks in the Barleux-Belley sectors, inflicting sanguinary losses. We have prisonored 55 officers and 3992 men southward of the ißomme on Tuesday. The total prisoners taken since the 3rd, north and south of the Somme, is 6650, also 36 guns,' of which. 28 arc of heavy calibre. CONDITIONS IN CONSTANTINOPLE APPEARANCE OF FOREIGN OCCUPATION. CROWDS OF AUSTRIANS ABOUT. GERMANS HAVE ALL LEFT. (Received 9.20) LONDON, Sept. 6. M. Bouchier from Constanza, reports that Constantinople presents the aspect of a city in foreign occupation. Austrian soldiers are everywhere, but Germans are less numerous. Turkey is most disappointed with Germany’s promised 120,000 reinforcements against the Russians, which have not arrived. A considerable num her of Germans hitherto in Constantinople have gone to Asia Minor or mistrusted with Christian troops kept busy strengthening) fortifications on the European side of the Bosphorus, in which all males from 17 to 60 are embodied. Boys of sixteen have been called up for training. Espomage has increased, but revolution is not anticipated, as the Young Turks are absolute masters. Servians are lighting with the Russo Roumanians, and all southern Slav war prisoners, numberng 100,000, who surrendered to the Russians early in the war, have now formed a volunteer regiment.

VON SCHENK’S DECISION. PLACES HIMSELF AT ALLIES' DISPOSAL. ATHENS, Sept. (5. Newspapers state that Yon Schenk visited the British Legation and placed himself at the Allies’ disposal. He then returned home and is awaiting the decision from London. GREEK ARCHIVES REMOVED. LONDON' Sept. (i. The “ Tageblatt” states that the Greek archives have been removed to Larissa. Several hundred Germans, including officers, have escaped from Athens. Venizelos has issued a proclamation calling on the Greeks to drive back the Bulgarians, A NOTED SPY ARRESTED. ATHENS. Sept. G. The British arrested Riza Pasha, the noted Turkish spy.

GERMANY'S GLOOMY VIEW. OF THE FOOD QUESTION. FURTHER REDUCTION OF MEAT. SOCIALISTS URGE ANNEXATIONS. (Received 11.50) AMSTERDAM, Sept. 6. The “Colojgaie Gazette” takes a gloomy view of the food question. It says the hope for larger and cheaper supplies of meat must be abandoned. Under the new meat ticket, not guaranteed, each German receives 250 grammes w eekJ y- This merely represents the limit obtainable under the most favourable circumstances. The Socialist Lachnisch, in an article in “Voerwaertz,” commenting thereon, recommeneds. more sober views and a concentration on endingthe war. SCENES IN HUNGARIAN DIET. PREMIER GREETED WITH SHOUTS. TO RESIGN HIS POSITION. (Received 11.45.) BUDAPEST, Sept. 6. A telegram describes stormy scenes in the Hungarian Diet. The Premier was greeted with shouts of resign from Karoly’s party. He was repeatedly interrupted, but urged the necessity for Hungarian unity in the fight for existence. HOLLWEG’S ASSURANCES. .HUN PROSPECTS ARE BRIGHT, . MILITARY SITUATION IS GOOD. (Received 11.45.) AMSTERDAM, Sept. 6. A Berlin telegram states that Hollweg assured a conference of party leaders that the military situation was good, and that war loan prospects were of the brightest. Obviously these assurances were necessitated by the widespread uneasiness in Germany. SERIES OF BRILLIANT COMBATS. LONDON, Sept. 5. A series of brilliant combats took place northward of the Somme on Tuesday. The tfioqlps, -showing irresistible dash, seized north-eastward of Clery the extremity of a hill traversed by the Bouchavcncs-Clcry road. FRENCH PUSH EASTWARD. PARIS, Sept. 6. Wo have captured since the 3rd inst., in the northern sector, 24 heavy guns, eight light guns, a large depot of shells, a captive balloon ,and many machine guns. \ ALL CAPTURED POSITIONS RETAINED. PARIS, Sept. 6. The battle southward of the Somme was waged with extreme violence. Despite the enemy’s repeated onslaught, wc maintained all positions. We carried a line of trenches eastward of Soyccourt, and reached the outskirts of Denieconrt Park. CASUALTY LIST.

ONE KILLED IN ACTION.

FIVE MEN WOUNDED. The following casualty list was supplied by the Defence Department today:— KILLED IN ACTION. Previously reported wounded and missing, now reported killed in action, August 9: —Trooper .1. Davis. COREECTED. Previously reported killed iu action, now reported “not” killed:—Trooper P. C, Davis. WOUNDED. August 24—Private L. G. -Sellars; Lieutenant L. 11. Marshall. ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL. August 2(1 —Sergeant E. P. Houghton SLIGHTLY WOUNDED. Remaining with Unit.—Company-Sergt.-Major R. E. Pyfe. MAORI CASUALTY LIST. WOUNDED. Admitted to Hospital, August 25 Corporal T. Tuati.