FRENCH SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUE THE FIGHT

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 158, 4 July 1916, Page 5

FRENCH SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUE THE FIGHT

THREE MORE VILLAGES IN THEIR HANDS. ARTILLERY FIRE OBLITERATES ENEMY TRENCHES. ENEMY GAINS TEMPORARY POSSESSION OF PORT DAMLOUP. DRIVEN OUT BY IMMEDIATE COUNTER-ATTACK. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) • (Received 10.3 a.m,) PARIS, July 3. An official communique states that the enemy north of the Somme did not attempt night attacks on the newly won positions. The fight continued south of the Somme with complete success. The northern and western outskirts of rfissevillers. a mile and a-half south-east of Dompierre. is in our hands. Our troops made considerable progress north of the villages of Estress. Assevillers. and Mort. The number of prisoners is not known, but heavy guns were captured during the latest actions. We have already identified 30 German battalions on the front covered by the French attack, of which the prisoners state 1 that 31 sustained very heavy losses and were completely disorganised. Host of the prisoners are»very young. They state that our artillery was textremely effective, and not only annihilated the defensive organisations but obliterated all lateral communications in the rear and rendered control of the troops and feeding impossible. The enemy defensively organised the village of Herbecourt, which we seized after a brilliant fight. v> c set fire to fifteen German captive balloons. During the offensive our Berojuanes were masters throughout. Only nine enemy machines were seen, and none crossed our lines. The Germans at 3.30 this morning, after a violent bombardment, on the Verdun front, launched a strong attack against Damloup work, on the right ank of the Meuse, and took possession of it. Our counter-attack immediately Juried back the enemy and recaptured the work.