THE WESTERN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15658, 2 August 1916, Page 7

THE WESTERN THEATRE.

THE BRITISH FRONT. RECENT GAINS CONSOLIDATED ROYAL FLYING CORPS' SUCCESSES. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, July 31 (2.50 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports: — "Last night was occupied in improving the positions wo gained yesterday. •'As the result of local encounters we advanced at some points on the plateau to tho north of Bazentin-le-Petit." LONDON, July 31 (11.55 p.m.). Sir Douglas Haig reports:— "There was no infantry fighting on the British front to-day. and no important incident occurred. "Tho Royal Flyiug Corps effected several raids and dropped seven t° ns of bombs on the enemy's communications and billets. A train was blown up and an ammunition depot set- on fire.

A hostile aeroplane On the ground was destroyed. Many aerial combats took place, and several enemy machines were ■brought down in a damaged condition. Three of our machines are missing." WITH THE FRENCH. ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL. DESPERATE FIGHTING AT | HEM. GERMANS SUFFER SEVERE LOSSES. Tho High Commissioner reports:— I LONDON, July 31 (3.5 p.m.). A French communique says:— "North of the Sommc, last evening and during tlio night, the Germans multiplied their counter-at-tacks on positions in Hem Wood and Monacu Farm. "The fighting was particularly violent towards Monacu Farm, where the enemy for an instant got a footing, but a brilliant return offensive immediately enabled us to resumo possession. "In Hem Wood all our adversary's attacks were repulsed by our fire. "In the course of these attacks the firo of our batteries on tho left of the liver enfiladed the Germans, inflicting heavv losses." liONDON, August 1 (12.10 a.m.). | A French communique says:— "North of tho Sommo, the Germans continued their attaokß on Hem Wood and Monacu Farm, but all their attempts failed, with serious enemy losses. "We are holding all tho conquered positions." THE GERMAN VERSION: NOT A FOOT OF GROUND GAINED. (By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON. July 31. A German communique states "The English operations at Pozierea and Longuoval were heralded by great Anglo-French artillery activity along the whole front from Longueval to the Somme. The enemy, employing at least six divisions in an attack on Pozieres and Longueval, was repulsed everywhere with frightful losses. The British have not gained a foot of ground. We took 12 officers and 769 men prisoners." ON THE MEUSE. HEAVY FIGHTING IN PROGRESS. FRENCH AIR RAIDS. The High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, July 31 (2.50 p.m.). The French communique states: — "West of tho Meuse a German attack on tho northern slopes of Hill 304 failed under our fire. "On the right bank a small detail operation enabled us to progress in the region south-west of Fleury, where we took twenty prisoners "The enemy made a hand grenade attempt to the west of Vaux and Chapitre Wood, but it was unsuccessful." LONDON, August 1 (12.10 a.m.). A French communique says:— "East of the Meuse violent fighting continues in the sectors of Thiaumont Work and Fleury. No event of importance has occurred on the rest of tho front. "On Sunday night one of our aero--1 plane squadrons bombarded the mili- ! tary factories at Thionville. the railway stations at Conflans and Audun-le-Roman, and also encampments in the region of Etain." BATTLE OF THE SOMME. DESPERATE STRUGGLE PROCEEDING. MASSING- OF ENEMY TROOPS AND GUNS. THE SITUATION SURVEYED. (Australian and Cable Association.) (Received Auguft Ist, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 31. Reports from Holland show • that thero is a cessation in tho big movements of German reinforcements to the

westward, proving that the enemy s man power is now ooncentrated on the "Western front. The enemy, however, is still rushing up guus, hoping to counteract the British superiority in men. It is estimated that there aro 700 German batteries on the Somme front. The fiercest fighting continues in this sector. A spell of hot, clear -weather is facilitating aerial -work in which the British and French aviators maintain their superiority. The immediate objective,? of the British and Trench arc Ginchy, Guiliemont and Maurepas, and tho villages screening the township of Comblcs, which the have transformed into a fortress. Any French progress east of the Clery- ! Combles lino will threaten the Germans' position at Peronne, which is still the main object of the French attack. Fiorco lighting is proceeding in the w0039 closo to the main road from Ginchy to Combles. The woods arc strongly organised, and the Brandonburgers have taken up positions in these woods since their defeat at Longueval and Delviilo Wood. The Britishers have sworn to complete tho rout of the Brandcnburgers in their new positions. A continuous supply of lveavv shells is tho governing factor in the fighting. Mr Phillip Gibbs, spccJhl correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle," describing Sunday's fighting in the vicinity of Waterlot Farm, says: "Our artillery maintained a heavy bombardment in support of our infantry's advancc over difficult ground. Many Germans surrendered during the early stages of the attack. The Germans at work digging new trenches east of the Longuc-val-Guiriemont road, were upset by tho British, -who initiated a forward movement irom "Waterlofc Farm, which is enly a co'ection of ruined buildings. Leaving at dawn, they reached the first Gorman lines with few casualties, but they found tho enemy holding a trench across the railway line in strong force, with the nest trenches oast of tho road whence the German fire enfiladed tho attackers. "The Scots hid in a series of shell craters, where they were attacked by a large force of Germans with machineguns, and forced to retire to their trenches, our raachinc-gunnors covering their retreat and mowing down many of the enemy. Later on the Scots were reinforced, fnd they practically wiped out a strong forco of enemy bombers and men carrying boxes of ammunition. "By this time some of tho Germans wero sick of the business, and a party of them emerged from their trenches with their hands up. Tho Scots -went out to bring them in, but tho Germans in the trenches beyond opened fire and killed a number of their own men and some of tho Scots. During tho night our stretcher-bearers found a wounded Scot whom tlio German patrol had left behind bceause ho gave them a drink. Tho Germans wished him good luck and a safe return to his own lines." (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received August 2nd, 12.55 a.m.) LONDON, August 1. Correspondents report that tho Germans have dug many new trenches behind Guiliemont. Among the new artillery brought up by them is a naval 11-inch gun. It is believed that eleven battalions garrison tho vital stretch of trenches about 2000 yards in length near Guiliemont. Tho toll of tho British artillery will, therefore, bo correspondingly heavy. Some of the German wire entanglements are 50 yards deep.