STORMING THE SECOND LINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1916, Page 5

STORMING THE SECOND LINE.

GENERAL HAIG'S ACCOUNT. BAVARIANS ALMOST EXTIRMtNATEI). REVELATIONS BY GERMAN OFFICERS. Received duly 18, 5.30 p.m. London, duly 18. General 77aig reports: Our ' troops north-west of Bazentin-10-Petit wood stormed and captured the Gorman second lino positions on a front of 150(1 yards. Tlie largo number of Herman dead in tliis ' sector hours evidence of tlie very heavy casualties sullered :iinee the advance began. i East of Longueval we still further widened tlie gap between the second line, capturing the strongly defended position of Waterloo farm, on the left flank. In the Ovillers-La BoiseJle sector, where i .hcre has been continuous hand-to-hand fighting since duly 7, we captured the remaining slrungholds of t.he enemy, the prisoners including two ollicers and 124 Guardsmen, who were (lit! remnants of its bravo, garrison. The whole village is now in our hands. The following captured documents show that very heavy casualties suffered by tlie enemy: — A company officer of the lflth Bavarians writes: ''The company's strength is now one ollicer and twelve men. We beg urgently for speedy relief for what remains of the company, who are so exhausted thai, if the enemy attacks, the men cannot be counted on." An ollicer ol another company of Bavarians reported: "My company is 'completely lost, as the fighting value of the men is so exhausted that they can no longer be employed. If the heavy artillery tire continues, rfie company will soon be exterminated." An oflicor of the second battalion of the 10th Bavarian Regiment reported: ''The battalion consists at the present time of three officers, two non-coms, and nineteen, men." , BRITISH CASUALTIES. GENERAL HAIG'S TACTICS. j| i'nli-SSURE ON GERMANS INCREASED ENEMY LOSSES ESTIMATED AT OVER A -MILLION. Received July 18, S..'io p.m. London, July 17. Monday's and Tuesday's casualty lists total 1034 ollicers and 43(il men'. Our withdrawal from Foveaux was due to General llaig's determination not to expose tlie troops unnecessarily until the third German line was thoroughly bombarded. To-day's communique proves that there was not even a temporary GerniaD success. It is merely proof that General Haig preferred to spend the enemy in 'widening the gap in the second line. The capture of Waterloo farm, between Longueval and Guillemont, increased the pressure on the German stronghold at Guillemont. It is expected that when the third line is pierc ed the progress of the attack will be easier. There are fewer woods in the i direction of Bapaume and the ground is less favorable to the construction of defence works. i Experts opine that now Bazentin-le. I Petit and Longueval are taken the Ger- | man organisation in the valley of the Ancre is doomed. ; French critics point out that even the 'Kaiser's presence in the Sonime region j with speeches, iron crosses and advice to generals, failed to cheek the AngloFrench offensive. ! Experts expected General Haig's sur- | prise attack on the first lines to be successful, and are now delighted to find (the attack on the second position also : brilliantly successful. I In the Times Colonel Feyler, a Swiss expert, estimates that the Central Rowers lost a million men during the spring. HOW TO HIDE THE TRUTH. A GERMAN SPECIALITY Received July 18, 8.30 p.m. London, July 17. A Berlin communique, dated July 17, states: The English, at many points between the sea and Ancre. increased their lire to great violence. Artillery activity on the Somme is very considerable on both sides. The enemy's local attacks resulted in the English penetrating Ovillei s V\ ood, and they led in lively fighting south of Biaches, but otherwise failed before mir curtain of fire. Extensive French attacks commenced on the 15th east of the Meuse, and continued until this morning. The enemy did not achieve success in the sanguinary struggle, but lost ground at a few points. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, Last Night. Ttie High Commissioner reports, London, July 11.5U p.m.: On the British front, heavy rain and mists again interfered with operations. Nothing important has occurred to-day. The total number of prisoners taken since July .1 amounts to IS!) officers and 1t»,77!) men. The captured armament includes live eight-inch and three six inch, and live other heavy guns, thi-'ty-seven field guns, and thirty trench howitzers, sixty-six machine guns and many thousands or rounds of gun ammunition. The above is exclusive of many guns not yet brought in, and numbers destroyed by our bombardment and abandoned. The French front is comparative* ly calm.