GENERAL SITUATION FAVOURABLE.

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

GENERAL SITUATION FAVOURABLE.

ENEMY'S STUBBORN RESISTANCE AT LA BOISELLE. PRISONERS TAKEN BY FRENCH NUMBER OVER 6,000. LONDON, July 3. The following are communiques on the battle of the Somme: — Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"There was heavy fighting on Sunday betwe* the Ancre and the Somme. especially about Fricourt and La Boisolle. Tto former was captured at two o"clock this afternoon, and remains in our hands. Some progress has been made eastwards. The enemy arc stubbornly resisting in the neighbourhood of La Boise'.le. but our troops are progressing satisfactorily. Much war material has been captured. The situation on either side of Ancre Valley is unchanged. The general situation may be regarded as favourable. Later reports of the enemy losses show that our first estimates were too low." A French communique states:—'"There has been heavy fighting in our favour all day long north of the Somme. and in the region of Hardecourt and Curlu. We captured a fortified quarry east of Curlu. and gained a footing in the second line at many points south of the Somme. We captured the village of Frise and the Wood of Mereincourt- The unwounded prisoners in our hands now exceed 6,000, including 150 officers. Some guns and much material have been captured. Our losses were slight. The insignificant French losses were due to complete artillery preparation and the dash of the infantry."