WESTERN ATTACK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1916, Page 5

WESTERN ATTACK.

V"'--—' ■"'" ■■■— i, HAIG'S BRILLIANT DESPATCHES. PRISONERS EXCEED 20,000 ADVANCE OX SIX JULES FROXT. LAST ENEMY I.TXE SMASHED THROUGH. Received Sept. 17, 5.5 p.ni; London, Sept. Ifi, General Sir Douglas Hair's despatches yesterday are among the most brilliant cf the war. Newspapers display big headlines: "Sweeping British advances!" "Germans on the Run!" The capture of 2:i(10 prisoners brings the total British captures on the Somme to over 20,000. General Sir Douglas Hsiig's bulletins stating that the situation on the Somme is unchanged invariably portend events of importance, and the puolic, are not 'disappointed. Everything was in readiness for the further advance on Thursday. The attack was made at dawn on Friday with the result that we advanced on a six-miles front, enabling the British to follow the example of the French at Bouchavesnes, and smash through the the third and last line of the c'wuy's long established position. ARMORED MOTOR FORTS General Haig's references to the mysterious armoured ears, and also to aeroplanes swooping like falcons and pouring streams of bullets upon the German infantry make a new and marvellous battle picture. Details are eagerly awaited. It has been whispered in the army for several days that there had been developments in those armoured cars which had rendered good service in Flanders early in the war, and afterwards in Egypt. It was known (hey hail successfully passed the experimental str.;iP, end would be tested in the Somme ok'cnsivc. Details of construction are unknown, but the soldiers call them "tanks" or more humorously, "Willies." No vehicle mounted on ordinary wheels could hope to survive the shell-torn, roadless, trench-intersected wilderness. Moreover, the cars must be invulnerable to machine-gun fire. When the details are published we shall be in n position to gauge the feelings of the German infantry, who, in the uncertain light of dawn on Friday, saw an array of unearthly monsters advancing in cased steel, spitting fire and crawling laboriously, but carelessly, over trenches', barbed wire, shell and 'craters. It is understood that the cars are really forts on wheels, their chief work being to locate German machine-guns. A MARVELLOUS ACHIEVEMENT. The difficulties the attackers have had to surmount have been increased by the defences of Lc Priez Farm, which,, in addition to its underground system, consisted of six successive line of entrenchments linked by communication trenches, and Hanked by tour redoubts, bristling with machine-guns. The Germans spent months constructing this work hoping thus to guard Combles from a dank attack Certain parts are still intact after being pounded with shells of all sizes during the entire wreck. General Fuyolles' gallant troops, however, took the position in two hours. EXTENT OF BRITISH ADVANCE. LARGE CAPTURES MADE. FURTHER FRENCH PROGRESS. Received Sept. 17, 11.40 p.m. London, Sept. 17. Gcicral Sir Douglas Haig's report continues: Our nttacks southward of Ancre, in certain localities, made further progress. We advanced since Friday to a depth of from one to two miles on a six mile front, and secured 1700 prisoners to-day, whereof fifty-one were officers. The total for the two days is over 4000, whereof 110 are officers. Six guns and upwards of fifty machine-guns were taken or destroyed, and much material captuied. V. . Two additional German aeroplanes were destroyed on Friday. Two additional British machines are missing. Paris, Sept. 1?'. A communique states: Things are comparatively quiet, we progressed northwards of Bouchavesncs, and captured trenches northeastward of Berny. A counter-attack between Belloy and Barleux collapsed under our machineguns. Our air squadrons bombed the blast furnaces at the Utkingen, the Uombacb. works at Mondelingen, the railways southward of Met/., and railway stations at Boiisdorl', Spineourt, and Longnyon. ENCIRCLING COMBLES. , FRENCH GAINS CONSOLIDATED. FURTHER ADVANCE, Received Sept. 17, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Sept. 16. . A communique states that the French consolidated their new positions north of the Somme. A German attack cast of Clcry was repulsed. In audition to nine German aeroplanes . brought down on Friday, six others were , forced to descend after air combats. Our air squadrons, early on Friday morning, i dropped 100 large shells on the military ; establishments at Font Saverger and , Detheniville, causing large fires, also 174 ; large shells on the Conllans and Jarmy stations. : We progressed northward of Leprioz ■ farm, securing a system of trciiches to 1 a depth of five hundred metres. This, . coupled with the British operations, has materially advanced the encirclement oi Combles. ; There were lively combats eastward of the Bethune Road, and northward of i Bouchaveues we extended our positions, i Two attacks on the Deniccourt Berry sector yielded considerable gains. Ten ■ aeroplanes successfully bombed the rail- ■ way stations and railways at Tergniei, > Chauny, Gniscard and Pont-a-Mousson, ' e.r.d others bombed the. barracks flt 1 Stenay, where several fires occurred. > We bombed the Rombach factory and ! our ail men set fire to the works at XJillingen, in the Saar valley,

GERMAN THIRD LINE. IIW BJ.UTISU ENVELOPING COJIBLES ■IMPORTANT BIIITISH ADVANCE. 'New York-, .Sept. 15. Reports received at Portland, Oiegon, elate that the liritisli smashed'the tierman third line, and captured Flcrs. ]',/, miles north-west of Cincby. They also captured Bonlennx Woods, and are. advancing against Morval, threatening to surround. Combles. London, Sept. 1;". Genera] Sir Douglas Haig reports: estcrnight we captured a thousand yards of trenches south-east of Thiepval. We attacked in the morning on a sixmile front from Rouleaux Wood, northward of the Albert-Uapanme road, and advanced in some places two to three thousand yard.-. We are using a new type of heavy armored car. The captures south-east of Thiepval indue a strongly-defended locality known as the Wundor Work. Our morning attack has already obtained considerable successes, and continues to progress satisfactorily, large numbers of prisoners being taken. Much use was made during this attack of air fighting. Our aeroplanes co-operat-ed, advancing with the infantry and flying low and firing upon the enemy troops. -They also successfully bombed three enemy headquarters, also the railway station at Bapaume, destroying a train and damaging much rolling-stock., ......^ SEVERE FIGHTING = ! | EXTENSIVE CAPTURES MAD2 ', Renter Service I Received- Sept. 10, 5..") p.m. .' London, Sept. ].», General Sir Douglas Haig states: Severe lighting to-day resulted in the capture of practically all the high ground between Combles and Pozicres. The Bapaume road, most of the BonIcau.v Wood, Flew, the High Wood, Martinpuieh, and Courcelette are iu our hands. Twenty-three hundred prisoners have already been trucu. London, Sept. -13. A French communique states: North of the Somme this evening our lively attack took by assault a group of trenches southward of Rineourt, the advanced elements reaching the outskirts of the village. The Hermans renewed night attacks eastwards of Clery, but suffered a bloody check everywhere, with very heavy losses. Tiie Daily Chronicle's correspondent at headquarters wired to-day that the British, in a great asault, broke through the enemy's third line, and it is reported that Flcrs is captured. The infantry are advancing iu the direction of Miirval. Our left is now in the outskirts of Martin-pinch,-thence towards the right we have advanced the whole line, encircling High Wood and occupying the main part of Rouleaux Wood. The men are filled with the fpirlt of victory. In several parts the enemy is fleeing back to the next line of trciicncs. il'risoners are coming in fast; ■JOu have come in already. New York, Sept.- -15. The World's correspondent on the British front at the Somme cables that, despite the steady advance of the British command, it does not look like a quick termination of the war. The British ,re determined to carry the war to German soil from the Somme, and reinforcements are literally thick from the battlefront to t'lio sea. Germany lias two million ti oops in France, o.f whom 700,000 are against the British. The Allied armies are making steady headway, and liritaiu's army of splendid material, and numbering at least two million men, could be thrown against the Gerhians- at one point without touching the reserves at home. At the present rate of losses Britain could light through next summer without new .troops, but if the present means continue (iermany by then will have been driven out of Fiance. GERMAN ADMISSION COMPELLED TO RETIRE. Amsterdam. Sept. 15. The semi-official North German Gazette makes the following striking admission : "By the occupation of Bouchavesnes the French have gained an advantage t'lu.t cannot be denied. Only a great superiority in numbers and unprecedented expenditure of ammunition induced the German commander to withdraw from this point to a position in the rear, which is perhaps advantageous." London, Sept. Ij. A German communique states: An English attempt to, encircle and capture our salient south of Thiepval failed. -Strong and brave French attacks, intended to break through between Railcourt and the Somme, failed 'heavily. The enemy occupied Le Priez Farm. Attacks west of Bclloy and south of ■Soyeeourt failed. After bitter all-night figiiting we ejected the enemy from the trenches we lost west of the Souville salient on Wednesday. Renter Service. Received Sept. Hi, 't.o p.m. Amsterdam, Sept lit. The Tdegraaf learns that on the 1-ith inst. thirteen train,* vvith dead and wounded soldiers and two disabled avtilkrv trains from the Somme proceeded from the frontier to Germany.

THE BRITISH TASK. SITUATION GREATLY IMPROVED. COMBLES GARRISON ENDANGERED. Received Sept. 17, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Sept. 10. ■Military critics are loud in praise of the British success. They iiilrait that the task is s.ill harder than the French. The British still have to face enemy lines that wire long organised, but the situation has great'y improved since the great Berlingots' trench was captured. Cities add that the battle is bound to continue in the fiercest manner. We are too close to Mont St. Quentin for the German liking. While its massed artillery interferes with us, the capture of Morvol v«ll make the cscape_ of the garrison at Combleg impossible, '

GROUND GAINED HELD/ SUCCESSFUL AIR RAIDS, " .. . Received Sept. 17, 5.5 p.m.' London, Sept. J".- \ General Sir Douglas Haig reports? South of Ancre there is no material change on the main battle front. Two local eounter-attack.s were beaten off. We held the line gained yesterday run* nine 500 yards north of the highwood,which includes the whole of the large villages of Courcelette, Mnrtinpuich and, Flers, each fully twice the size of Guide* mont. Many successful raids were made at various points on the front by the air] service, which is in constant and suecessfnl co-operation with the artillery. and infantry. Frequent and accurate reports as to the course of the battle and hostile artillery and infantry have been effectively engaged by our aero« planes, who, with machine-gun Are conn . duct many bombing attacks on hostile 1 aerodromes, and railway stations ami - troop trains. Thirteen hostile aero-v pianos were destroyed to-day, and niMi damaged. Four of our machines ggej missing. ~' ' < A TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENTi Eiu.MY CRUSHING LY DEFEATED, ' Received Sept. 17, 11.55 p.m, ~. Paris, Sept. J!R\ Military correspondents nt the Sommjf describe the almost incredible effect of the seventy-two hours' British bombard* ment of the German trenches. The whole ground was churned up fend aj small, but splendidly' fortified armoured! work opposite Courcellctte, completely] rased. No trace of the fort could ba, found when the attacking infantry) crossed the ploughed soi'. The whole; buttle was one of the most sanguinary. The enemy massed in large forces at) every point threatened, and although eni joined to defend every inch to the last* the men were compelled to acknowledge a crushing defeat, and surrendered) wholesale. f , ;_; ( KING GEORGE'S CONCRATULATIONS. CONFIDENCE IN COMPLETE} VICTORY. ' Received Sept. 17, 5.5 p.U; London, Sept. <l<T. X The King in si message to General SirJ Douglas Haig, said: "I congratulate you and my brave troops in the brilliant success just achieved. I have never! doubted a complete victory will ultimately crown our efforts. Yesterday's) splendid result:! confirmed this COM fidenee." iVIIININGS OF GERMAN PRESS, Received Sept, 17, 5.5 p.m. Rotterdam, Sept. 18. The TColnische Zeitung plaintively 4 ' grumbles at the system of alternating British and French attacks which give* an opportunity of resting troops, a» well as bringing up reinforcements o£ men end ammunition. The military correspondent of the Frankfurter Zeitung insisted on. the inv portanco of the innumerable Anglo.' French captive balloons and aeroplaneswhich are directing the artillery and > make the bringing up of supplies diffi< cult. The feeling of impotence to fac« the enemy's aerial activity is most ei* asperating. FURTHER FRENCH GAlSfflj-, Received Sept. 17, 5.5 p.m.- '•* Paris, Sept. W; A communique reports: We capture! to a depth of 500 yards the trenchet northward of Lc Priez Farm, also, during the course of brisk fights, we seized a strongly held trench and wood castwan, of ■Doniecourt, and three trenches in cession north-eastward of Bcrny. '■