SMASHING THOUGH.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1916, Page 4

SMASHING THOUGH.

THE GERMAN LINES. IMPORTANT STRATEGICAL POSITIONS CAPTURED BY THE ANGLOFRENCH. UNPRECEDENTED EXCITEMENT. IN LONDON AND PARIS, Received June i, 5.5 p.m. London, July 1. The news of the Britisli offensive created unprecedented excitement in London and Paris. Yesterday's bombardment was much more violent than previously, and in some.parts the Britisli poured shells at the rate of sixteen per second. The houses in towns twenty-live miles distant trembled, and the ground shook. The spectacle at night time was most impressive. As far as the eye could see there was nothing but a horizon of fire, the German positions being enveloped in lire and smoke, while an immense red reflection filled the heavens. A correspondent of Lloyd's Weekly at Hendcjuarters says we have captured Nerre Montaubau and important strategical positions between Hebuterne and Bray. We hold positions In the villages of Ccmtal Maison and Mametz. aje attacking Beaumoiithniel, six miles north of Albert..and have captured La ISoiselle. two miles north-west of Albert. Many prisoners have been taken on the German front lines. The AngloFrench armies, lighting with the greatest gallantry, covered one and a-quarter miles beyond the German front line, rapidly occupying the village of Curlu, on the Somine, and Faviere Wood.

BRITISH ARTILLERY. EQUAL IF NOT SUPERIOR TO THE ENEMY'S. UNPARALLELED STORM OF FIRE. Received June 1, 5,5 p.m. London, June 1. The Morning Post's correspondent at Headquarters says the British artillery on an entire eighty-mile front lias reaclieed a vigor -hitherto unapproachod. Undoubtedly we have begun t» yet the giuis and ammunition for which we have been wa'ting and are using them to the fullest extent. Expert artillerists believe the British are not only equal, but have a pull over the Germans in the mutter of artillery. The correspondent visited a section where the enemy has had the worst time he has ever experienced since the British shells burst overhead. The Herman reply was singularly feeble, and gave the impression of being in a sullen mood and not liking our new guns and shells. The Hermans have mostly hauled down their kite balloons. The correspondent (■Minted fourteen British balloons on a short front, and not a single German ona GERMAN, POSITIONS PENETRATED. HEAVY ARTILLERY ACTION. Received July 2, 5.5 p.m. London, July 1. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Patrols, reconnoitring and raiding parties continued active all along the front. They entered the Gorman" trenches at many points. A strong raiding party south of Neuve Chapelle penetrated to the German support line. The weather war, unfavorable for aerial work. There was a German heavy artillery action all day along the front between Souoliez, Hohenzollern and the Outznoe region.

I WEARY AND FAMISHED. ' GERMANS' PITIFUL PLIGHT. i , REFUSE TO KE-ATTACK AT VERDUN ; Received July 2, 5.5 p.m. London, July 1. The Homing Post's correspondent at Headquarters continues:—"Tlie recent rains served tlio most useful purpose in disclosing tlie identity of every German battalion from tlie sea to the Somme. German prisoners taken at the •Sutumo •had not tested food for three days. They were weary and famished, and gladly deserted. It has been learned tlmt eight German divisions were withdrawn from the West front and transferred to tiie East front, in the hope of stemming tlie Russian advance. A .story is current that one of these divisions, tlie Eleventh Bavarian, disobeyed an order to re-attack at Verdun. Every tenth map was ordered :o !>e shot, but the order was countermanded after the Kin? ■,! Havana's personal appeal to the Kaiser The bombardment of the German positions continues with the utmost severity. Patrols report that many trenches are deserted, and the defences and the wires damaged. ENEMY LOSING HEART. BLOODY FIGHTING. MUST COME BEFORE THE END. Received July 1. 5.5 p.m.' London, July 1. Tlie Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent says that the French 'are following the British tactics, and are worrying the Hermans by making assaults horn Rheims to Soissons. The enemy is losing heart. Although there is terrible prom' that we now possess ec|iial artillery, it i» unwise to raise unduly high hopes. There must be bloody lighting before the end,

A VIGOROUS ATTACK. AFTER TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT. BRTTTSTi CASUALTIES XOT HEAVY. Received July 2. 5.5 p.m. London, July J. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent wires from Headquarters:—"The liritUh launched a vigorous attack after a t«rvilie bombardment of ninety minutes, Our casualties were not heavy FIGHTING ALL DAY. VILLAGES STORMED AXI> CAPTURED , A VIOLENT STRUGGLE. 2000 GERMANS TAKEN. Received July 2, 11.30 p.m. London, July 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports heavy fighting all day long between the Somme. the Ancre and northward of the Ancre as far as Gomuiecourt inclusive. The fight on the whole of this front continues with inl.cnsitv IVc captured, on the right, a labyrinth of trenches on a seven mile front,' and a depth of 1000 yards. YV;- stormed Mid occupied the strongly . fortified villages of Montr.uban and Ma- j msz, and gained in our centre attack on a four mile front many strong points. The enemy at oth«r points is still re'■istitiv. The struggle here is severe, and the battle northward of Ancre valley to Gomuiecourt was equally violent. Hero \ve were unable to retain portions of the ground gained by the first attackß, hut retain tt>-f others. Upwards of two thousand Germans were taken prisoners, including two regimental commanders and tho whole of our regimental stall'.