SMASHING THROUGH.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1916, Page 4

SMASHING THROUGH.

14,000 YARDS FRONT CAPTURED. ALSO FIVE FORTIFIED VILLAGES. Received July 12, 5.25 p.m. London, July 11. General Sir Douglas Haig- reports: Ten days and nights of continuous fighting by the troops completed a methodical capture of the whole of the enemyV, first line system of defence on a front of fourteen thousand yards, consisting of numerous continuous lines of fire trenches, and support and reserve trenches, extending from 'two thousand to four thousand yards in depth, and including five strongly fortified villages, numerous heavily-wired entrenched woods, and a large number of immensely strong redoubts. The capture of each trench represented operations of some importance. The German success at Trones Wood, alter six costly attacks, was, of short duration. We recaptured the whole, except the northernmost end. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. , FURTHER GOOD WORK. Received July 12, 10.5 p.m. Paris. July 12. A communique states: To-day has been comparatively calm on the Somme. We cleared the wood north of La Maisonette and occupied the trenches between Estrces and Bciloy-en-Santerre. The Germans renewed their attacks on the front of Fleury station, Vaux Wood, and Le Chenois. After several fruitless attempts, with heavy loss, the enemy obtained a foothold in the Damloup battery. PERFECT CO-ORDINATION. THE POSITION AT BIACHES. FRENCH COMMAND RAILWAY. GERMANS EXPOSED TO CROSS FIRE. Received July 12, 5.25 p.m. London, July 11. The Daily Telegraph Paris correspondent says Biaches lies at the foot of a ' declivity on the edge of the Somnie Canal, opposite Peronne, from which it is separated by the canal and the river marshes. Hill 97 is one mile south of Piaches, with La Maisonette on the far summit. There is a small wood halfway up the hill, between Biaches and Maisonette. The enemy bad strongly fortified Biaches Wooer and the hill. The French, south of the Somme, hold two | lines of hills from Belloy to Feuillieres ' westward, and Barleux to Biaches eastward. The only German position of im- [ portance is Villers. The capture of Hill 9" has given the French complete command of the railway from Chaulines to Peronne. The most remarkable feature of the Anglo-French offensive is the perfect coordination of the operations. The advanced line from the Ancre river to Peronne forms a series of steps, the enemy at each angle being exposed to a cross fire from two sides. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. London, July 11. The High Commissioner reorts: A French official report states: On both sides of the Somme the day has been relatively calm. Small operations enabled us to completely clear the wood north of La Maisonette and occupy communication trenches between Estrces and Bciloy-en-Santerre. On the right bank of the Meuse the Germans on Tuesday morning renewed attacks. After several unsuccessful attempts with heavy losses the enemy gained a footing on Damloup, and some elements of our line in Fumin Wood. There has been an intense bombardment on the whole of this region and on the left bank. There is moderate artillery action in the Somme region. There were fourteen air combats. Four enemy machines were driven down rapidly. One of our pilots returned safely with his machine burning. Our bombarding squadrons were active on the night of the 10th. Two hundred shells were dropped on various stations. CLOSING 'IN. GERMAN LINE PIERCED, DEEPENING AND WIDENING THE BREACHES. ENEMY MUST EVACUATE. Received July 12, 5.30 p.m.' London, July 11. Mr. Philip Gibbs, writing from France, says that slowly, but steadily wc are drawing the lines closer about the Germans' strong places along the whole of our atacking front. It is true that the German line from the sea to the Vosges is one of great forces, but it is more essentially and technically true regarding a portion of that line that we have penetrated it. The great German salient at Gommcccurt and Fricourt resembles a chain of medieval fortresses connected by tunnels and earthworks. The ruined villages of Goinmc.':ourt, Bcaumonthamel, Ehiepval, Ovillers, La Boiselle and Fricourt are strong places, stronger for purposes of defence than any old tower, because they are filled with machine-guns, trench mortars and other delay engines. Despite the superb courage of the British battalions in flinging themselves against the left side of the salient, they haye not fallen. We have made ' reaches which are now deepening and widening. The attack on the south side succeeded, resulting in the capture of La 'loisellc and Fricourt. Further eastwards, at Mametz and Montauban, we "e now pushing the attack with a view f turning the strong places upon the ■ eft. while the assaults from without . ■'■ weakening the resistance. We are Uvadually putting a stranglehold upon ' 'em, and if we keep striking deeper . <• salient Is done for at Ovillers and ,yal Maison. The Germans must evacite their strong places upon the left, lierwise we will surround and capture 'tie troops,