ENEMY'S COUNTER-ATTACK SOUTH OF SOMME

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 174, 22 July 1916, Page 5

ENEMY'S COUNTER-ATTACK SOUTH OF SOMME

SMASHED UNDER FRENCH CUiRTAIN OF FIRE. GREAT ABTIUUSBY ACTTVTTT OK THE VERDUN FRONT. FRENCH AERIAL SQUADRON BOMBS MILITARY POINTS. (Received 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 21. The High Commissioner cables:— The French official report cays:—''Southwards of the Somme the enemy yesterday counter-attacked our new positions south of Soyecourt. An assaulting battalion was caught under our curtain of fire and mitrailleuses, and retired in disorder, suffering very heavy losses. The night was calm on both sides of the Somme. "In the region of Chaulnes, at the southern extremity of our advance, a strong enemy detachment which attempted to reach our line south of Maucourt was repulsed with the bayonet. "Between Soissons and Rheini3 our reconnaissances, after a favourable mine explosion, penetrated an adversary trench, whicli was then swept clear with grenades. "On the Verdun front there is great artillery activity in the sectors C'hattancourt and Fleury. "In the Vosges, following a violent bombardment, the enemy attempted to attack our positions northwards of Wissenbach, but were successfully checked. "During yesterday and last night our aerial squadrons bomlwd several important points on the enemy front, including the stations at Conflans, Mare-la-Tour, Longupon, and Brieulles Junction, in the Lorarine sector, and Ham, south-east of Chaulnes, where numerous heavy projectiles were dropped. "On the 17th. 18th, and 19th, the open towns of Baccarat and Luneville were bombarded by the enemy's aerial squadrons, but the damage done wae immaterial. Reprisals will be taken.