WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

I POZIERES CAPTURED, AFTER A GREAT STRUGGLE* FURTHER ADVANCE MADE. Wellington. July 27. 'l'lio High Commissioner reports' under r.ate London, July 2(i (12.10 p.m.) : Haig reports that the whole of Pozieres is now in our hands. Westward the Territorials made a further advance and captured two strong trenches, also a munber of prisoners, including five officers. The position elsewhere is unchanged. The High Commissioner reports under ■ late London, July 2li (,'J p.m.): A French report says: On the Somme the night was calm. In the course of the fighting yesterday the French were enabled to take an island of houses southwards of-Fstrees. We took 117 prisoners and brought back throe more cannon, making six taken that day north of Soyeeourt. On the right hank of the Mouse there > great artillery activity in the sector of Fleury. We dispersed by fire deta.imiuls of the enemy northward of T.a Chappclo. SPLENDID RESISTANCE. AGAINST PICKED GERMAN TROOPS. Paris, July 2(1. Newspapers eulogise the magnificent resistance of the Australian and English troops, who are opposing an unbreakable barrier to the heaviest counterattacks of picked German troops. A French communique reports:An air squadron dropped 42 bombs on military establishments at Thionvillo and Rombach. The same squadron be fore daybreak flew out and dropped 38 bombs on the munitions depot at Dun, and also bombed the railway stations at Vilosnes and Brieulles and bivouacs at Daunevoux. THE KEY OF THE POSITION. HIGHER GROUND MUST BE TAKEN. GERMAN RUSE FAILS. THE VALUE OF ARTILLERY. Received July 27, 5.5 p.m. London, July 26. Mr. Gihbs writes: Following the first great assault before Pozieres, and before the key of the position can be really captured, the fight must be made for the higher ground beyond the village, which to the advancing English regiments upon the left constitutes a menace, also to the line that has been thrust forward in a series of posts joinnig up the positions in the neighborhood of the high wood where the enemy's heavy bombardment has checked pro- £) ess. A curious incident occurred southward of tin' high wood. Our troops noticed a body of kilted men .'oming, and momentarily thought they were wounded Scottish returning. An officer with field glasses discovered they were Germans dressed in dead men's kilts. A few shells dispersed them. During the past few days the increasing strength of the German artillery was noticeable, especially in heavy guns, which are firing at longer range, and vildly, with a view to making things uncomfortable in our rear, but owing to cur superiority in observation this has [roved a complete failure. The Ger man aircraft are wasting much ammunition. Our anti-aircraft guns have hardly fired a shell for weeks. Our artillery work has accomplished a a. wonderful achievement, and the success in this great battle is largely due to the science and daring of gunners. Thousands of men in the Homeland are sweating in soul and body making guns a;id ammunition, but any slackening in the workshops now means the cutting off of support, which is desperately needed now, as the Germans arc bringing up many new batteries. A FOUR DAY'S BATTLE. COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL. BRANDENBURGERS CHARGE EIGHT TIMES, ONLY TO FAIL WITH HEAVY LOSSES. Received July 27, 8.10 p.m. London, July 2(1. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent states: After four days' hard fighting we obtained complete possession of Pozieres by Tuesday night. The Germans on Monday brought up large reinforcements, some from Verdun, for | a second general counter-offensive. The reinforcements were thrown on a front of eight miles from Thiepval to Guilleii.'ont, and they everywhere fought with reckless courage. The movement, however, proved a disastrous failure, and nowhere was there more than momentary success. The hardest blows 'ell on the ends of the line. A desperate attempt was made to dislodge the Australians in the centre of Pozieres, I while a division of Germans fell upon the South Africans, who were defendiiit! Bureaux Wood, Delvjlle Wood and 1 ongueval village. The aviators, however, gave notice overnight of large concentrations of Germans in the village of Fleis. When the Bavarians attacked, our trenches had been reinforced and the gunners wore ready. A Brandenburg bvigado charged eight times before Gniilcniont. and was each time driven hack with heavy losses. Our artillery was particularly effective, and thousands of greycoats fell before Pozieres, Rafaitir mid Nonoom. Seven Germans, captured near Pozieres, said they were the on! survivors of their compasy. The P :-i":»n attacks were continued on Moil' night. On Tuesday, most of the , .ss-uilting columns failed to reach our iines. while the gallant Australians, were clearing the last brick heaps at T-'ozieies, and other battalions were advancing past the rest of the village. The enemy's salient at Thiepval is now strongly threatened-