WAR NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1916, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

SCENE OF ALLIED OFFENSIVE. FIRST FJHHTIXH 01' IMPORTANCE IN THIS REUIOX. j Spoking generully, tho sector over which tin; combined British and French offensive extends lies midway on the battle front between Arras and'the River Oi.sc. The exact scene of the fighting is the portion of this line extending m a south-easterly direction from Hebutcrne, eight and a half miles due north of Albert, to the Kiver Somme region, northeast of Brav, and about eight miles south-east of Albert. La fioisello, close to Albert, is about tho central point of the sector. The region is pierced by two rivers, the Anere and the Somme. 'Jhe Scnime, after reaching Corbie, ID nubs south-west of Albert, flows in an easterly direction, with a gradual trend '..maris the north. The part of the river about which the battle is develop, ing is that in the neighbourhood of Frise (which, lias been captured by the French), eight and a half miles'soiith*ist of Albert, where the Somme follows a curiously winding course. The River Anere rises a considerable distance north of Albert, which is on its banks, and crosses the sector near Tliiepval, four miles north-east of Albert. After passing Albert it joins the Kiver Somme just below Corbie. Mondieban is live and a half miles east of Albert. SOUTHKRX PORTION OF THE KXTEXDEJ) BRITISH I.INF. The ground over which the British are now fighting represents Die southernmost portion of their extendrd front; from the Yser to the Somme, Hie taking over of which—in order to relieve the French at Verdun—was announce,! on March 2Sth last. A number «.f liritish I roups had from November last been holding ground north and south of Albert, but there was at the same time a considerable French force in the neighbourhood of Arr.c. The region of the French oll'ensive e.v. tends from Frise. soiitli of the Somme, to a point west of I'eronne. Although no operations of a major kind have been hitherto attempted 'in Cue ITo'witcme-Frise sector, trench tvarlare has been carried on I here scarcely without interruption since February, lillii. These minor operations have obliged both side* to give around at times, but (be French more than one,, advanced their lines after finding a vulnerable spotin (he Herman lines. At (he extreme north of the sector, a French attack .vas launched against the (.'erinan lines m .Tune S, lill.l, which resulted in the enemy being driven from two successive lines of trenches at Tons Vents Farm, three miles south-east of Hebutcrne. POSITION OF RECONSTRUCTED HERMAN LINK. The reconstructed Herman line ran from a point east of the f, m .i. south to Scire, thence to Mailiy-Maillct. and from .•hence In Beaumont Ifimel. just north of the River Anere and three and a half ■niles south and slightly easi of Jlebuverne. Further progress was made at Beaumont Hamci on June 14, throe trenches being captured. The Herman resistance south of (be River Am re proved in .ire stubborn. Fiehting was lontinued with uncertain result at Thieii>al, while at U Roiselle. two and a half miles north-east of Albert and one and i half miles due west of Contalmaison, mine warfare lasted from January to April of last year, the French -till, however, retaining part of the village. From i.a Jhii.-elle the opposing line, ran rasl of Albert to Fricourt. thence through Mamctz, Carney, and Malleoli to the neighbourhood of Curlu, on (he north bank of the River Somme, and a mile due north of Frise. The only French attack in this region, at Trieourt, in July, proved unavailing. i Since the British troops came to this ! sector the only fighting of importance i»s ...-etirred a't Serre and at Fricourt. On January 31 last British troops bombed enemy trenches at Serre, to which the Hermans replied with a trench raid on February 21. At Fricourt the •dealing of mines has been a regular 'ccurrence since Christmas.