NEW ZEALANDERS PRAISED.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1916, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS PRAISED.

THEY REPEL HEAVY GERMAN ATTACK.'. deceived Sept. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept, IS. General Sir •Douglas Haig. pays a trumte to the New Zealanders for their share in the successes at Flers, MartinJiuieli, and Couroeletfe. After the gain of the objective oil Kridav, the New Zealandcrs repelled heavy counter-attacks and severely punished the enemy, besides progressing further.

ENEMY REPULSED

FRENCH ADVANCE CONTINUED. SUCCESSFUL AIR RAIDS. 'Paris Sept. 18. A French communique says: We repulsed counter-attacks at Clery The Germans three times counter-attacked violently in the night southward of Deniecourt, also eastward of Berny, tout were repulsed with very heavy losses. We further progressed at Berny and completely surrounded Deniecourt, taking 1300 prisoners. Prisoners state that the losses at Berny 'were enormous; two battalions were almost annihilated. Our air squadrons bombed the railway stations at Nantilloss, Viller-C'arbonneL and Horgliy, doing great damage.

"ONE GREAT GRAVEYARD."

ENEMY'S FRIGHTFUL LOSSES A BIG COUNTER-ATTACK FOILED Bcceived Sept 19, 8.55 p.m. London, Sept. in. Mr. Philip (Jibbs states that the Germans made a couple of attempts against tie defences round Martinpuich and '.'ourcclcttc, but the long range guns prevented their ••oming within rifle range. The enemy's losses in the recent battles were very frightful. One of our staff officers estimates them to be eight to one. His dead lie solid in certain pcrts of the battle-front. Across the ridge when the wind blows there comes a dreadful mitisma of corruption and blood. The vhole ridge from Delville VVGOd to Ginchy is one great graveyard. The enemy's artillery is still very strong, but • some of his batteries are perilously situated from our new positions. ■ There are ; ndieaticns that lie is shifting thepi backward. There is evidence that the enemy prepared a great counter-attack at the time ours was lam:t.lied.

Mo'.:quec Farm was captured by a dash across a short strip of No Man's i.aii'.l. The encmv retreated within a tunnelled dug-out. having at least two entrances, and maintained a fire from 'oop holes. After surrounding the dugout we blew in the southern entrance, while guarding the other outlet. When our men rushed this wonderwork, they found that til's whirlwind bombardment ad converted it into a (jlmos of earth and concrete. Five officers of 116 were still ulivc and surrendered instantly. Our attack reveals the temporary demoralisation of the enemy, but there is "-till much fighting before Germany's weakness leaches the breaking point, THE FRENCH REPORT i (Received Sept. II), B.lc p.m. Paris, Sept. 19. An official communique states: We captured a cluster of trenches two hundred yards south of Combles, and carried the vhole of Deniecourt after a fierce liatt'.s, taking piisoner the remaining defenders, and progressed a kilometre' southwards. Sunday's and Monday's prisoners ht. Deniecourt numbered 25 officers and ICO,') men. We seized a trench on the southern slopes of-Mort Homme.

THE SOMME OFFENSIVE.

YON WIEGAND'S DESCRIPTION. - THE ALLIES' BEST WORf l r . Xew York, Sept 18. The German censors permitted Karl von Weigand to cable to the Kew York World a report of tlie fighting on the Somme, in which remarkable admissions are made as to the .Allies' success. 'Von Weigand, in his djspatch, dated Berlin, September Hi, states that in a tremendous attack, splendidly carried out by the French and English, the Allies drove back the Germans with what was probably the hardest :,nd most effective blow in the 'Somme offensive. Following on an indescribably terrible attack, tlie Allies, on it narrow front of twelve miles, carried the German lines from near Thiepva! 0 u the north to Rancourt on the south-east. This is the best team work the Allies have yet. carried out. The Allies' drive was directed against the German lines which had been harassed and wearied by days of uninterrupted battering. The Germans made a gallant and desperate stand, hut were unable to withstand the terrific onslaught of English and French divisions in overwhelming numbers on such a narrow front. I 'Von Weigand adds: '*. l consider it probable that the Allies will linve further local successes, and that the Germans may fail back at a number of other points. In view of the great i} exposed | situation of Peronne and Combles it ivould not be surprising it they fall into the hands of the Allies " The dispatch is abruptly cut short at this point by the censor. HELP FOR DISTRESSED BELGIANS. New York, Sept. IS. The Commission for the Relief of Belgium is asking Americans for a million dollars a month in order to avert widespread sickness and death owing to lack of food. The director of tlie Commission in America reports an alarming increase of tuberculosis, particularly among Belgian children, due to lessened resistance owing to inadequate diet, also great mortality among children. The Commission bases the estimate for supplies on the assumption that the war will last another jeaj»