A CRITICAL PHASE REACHED.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1916, Page 5

A CRITICAL PHASE REACHED.

BELGIAN FRONTIERS CLOSED. FEVERISH ACTIVITY OF GERMANS. Received July 27. 10,35 p.m. Amsterdam, July 27. Tiic R<-l°ian frontiers are clo'sod to cover the grout movements of German troops to replace the terrible losses sustained at the Somme. The entire German army is in a state of feverish' activity, the' feeling being that a critical phase has come. Fresh troops are being continually thrown into the fighting line, and remnants of regiments are sent back to the front in a few days reinforced by remnants ot other units. British aviators have accomplished fine work. They dropped bombs on a troop train at Lille, killing- over 200 soldiers. BRITISH AIR SUPREMACY. AX INVALUABLE AID. Times Service. Received July 27, 10.15 p.m. London, July 27. The Times' correspondent at the front refers to our eompleteTmastery of the air. We are ruling the skies above the lines, and holding the enemy terrorised far within his own territory. The British, machines are constantly guarding German aerodromes, and, preventing enemy airmen coming out except during darkness or in the thickest weather.' On:- air supremacy is of incalculable value in this artillery war, wherein observation counts for much. AN IMPASSABLE BARACE. A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. CAPTURED EXGLISH ESCAPE. DARING FIELD GUNNERS. Received July 27, 5.15 p.m. London, July 26. Mr. Gibbs, continuing, says: Our barrage made a great wall through which nothing could pass. It cut off the Germans from their reserves. Some of our men who were taken prisoners in the first attack were not sent to the rear, •lie Germans not daring to emerge from U ur dug-out for the purpose of escorting them. The Britishers were compelled to share the dug-outs with the Germans, all being foodless, tortured with thirst and suffering from the effects of the British fire. All were nearly dead. 'Die Germans were too dazed to net as guards. The English prisoners ciawled out and escaped, afterwards reaching their own lines. A German ofliccr taken prisoner said. "Vouv artillery was worse ''ban anything I suffered, even at Verdun. The daring of the field gunners was incomparable. They came up like Roman ehariotters at full gallop, not caring for danger and placing their batteries in the open as if on manoeuvres." Military maps show many points where bombardments smothered clusters of German batteries. THE GREAT PUSH. .... GREAT PREPARATIONS. United Service; London, July 20. One of the Australian members of Parliament who recently visited the front said the great push on the Somme took many months to prepare. Fortysix miles of wagons were gathered in one (juavter for munitions. This gives a sense of the proportion of the preparations. Renter's Paris correspondents, reviewIn;; the Pozieres fighting, says that hitherto the Anglo-French have taken 26,223 prisoners and enormous booty, including 140 guns and more than eight square kilometres of ground. BRUSSELS PEOPLE DEFY GERMANY Amsterdam. July 20. The Brussels demonstration on the Belgian Fete Day was glaring. The crowds after a "Te Deiim," accompanied Cardinal Mercer to the station singing hymns, cheering for the King, and hooting Germany and the Kaiser, German frcops repeatedly charged the crowds. A QUIET DAY. Received July 28, 5.25 p.m. London, July 27. General Sir Doug'as Haig reports that with the exception of occasional artillery duels and short local encounters at various points there was no incident of importance to-day. ATJSTKO-GEBMANY. SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Received July 27, 5.5 p.m. Berlin, July 20. The Tageblatt states" that the passport rules are being tightened, so as to prevent espionage. Wealthy Germans are leaving the country to avoid taxation. WHAT MIGHT BE EXPECTED Received July 27, 5.5 p.m. Vmsterdam, July 20. The Telegraf states that six civilians at Ghent have been executed since the war for treason. The Germans have sent 0000 civilians from Roubaix, including 2000 women, to Germany to do agricultural work. UNITED STATES, HUNTING SUBMARINES. Now York, July 20. It is reported from Baltimore that a British cruiser, hunting for submarines, entered Chesapeake Bay, but returned outside the three-mile limit