WAR NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 200, 21 September 1916, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

FRIDAY’S GREAT BATTLE. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT. ALL HIGH GROUND CAPTURED. BRITISH IN SPLENDID POSITION. ARTILLERY DOMINATES ENEMY POSITIONS. LONDON, Sept 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Friday’s attack was launched at (3.20- in the morning on a front from Leuze Wood to Pozieres, against a treble line of trenches connected by strong subsidiary trenches. The enemy besides held some advanced positions, with machine-guns in trenches and shell holes behind these at a distance of 1000 yards. On our front the enemy had recently constructed and wired a fourth mine line of trenches fronting the Letran-slow-Bapaume road. The defences were formidable, supported by upwards of a thousand guns of all calibres.

Punctually at (3.20 the infantry, accompanied by heavy armoured cars, advanced in close order under cover of the field artillery barrage, and everywhere carried the first line, except at two points, namely, the high ground between Ginchy and Leuze Wood, and at Foureaux Wood. Neglecting these, the infantry swept forward round them,, and at 10 o’clock captured the whole of Flers, with its strong points, and advanced with the bayonet. The outskirts of Martinpuich-Coureolctte was reached at the same time as,these villages were captured in the afternoon. ' Northumbrian, London Territorials, Scottish and English New Army Divisions, and troops from Canada and New Zealand shared our Guards’ credit for these successes. On the right the enemy maintained hold of the high ground north-west-ward of Leuze Wood, efforts to dislodge them being unsuccessful. The enemy at Gonroaxu Wood, however, surrendered when the flanks woic turned, and at 11 o’clock the whole woods were ours. We have thus gained practically the

whole of the high ground between Comblos and the valley of the Ancre, and are now well down the forward observation thus afforded, we are able to inflict heavy punishment on the enemy. ENEMY BADLY SMASHED UP. BIG CAPTURE OF MEN AND LONDON, Sept, 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports: To-day’s advance was important. There were numerous prisoners as the result of a highly successful operation at Quadrilateral. Counter-attacks northward of Fluers were repulsed with loss, and we progressed. Hostile troops massing to counterattacks between Les Boeufs and Morval were caught by artillery lire and dispersed. Five heavy howitzers, two field guns, three heavy and three light trench mortars were captured in addition to those reported.

Since Friday several enemy aeroplanes have been downed. Four of ours are missing.