FOUR DAYS' HARD FIGHTING FOR POZIERES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 179, 28 July 1916, Page 5

FOUR DAYS' HARD FIGHTING FOR POZIERES.

DISASTROUS COUNTER-OFFENSIVE BY THE ENEMY,

DRIVEN BACK WITH ENORMOUS LOSSES,

LONDON, July 27. The Paris correspondent of the London "Daily Chronicle" writes:—"After four days' hard fighting we were in complete possession of the village of Pozieres on Tuesday night. The Germans on Monday brought up large reinforcements, some from Verdun, for a second general counter-offensive. The reinforcements were thrown forward on a front of eight miles from Thiepval to Guillemont, and everywhere fought with reckless courage. The movement, however, was disastrous, gaining nowhere more than momentary success. The hardest blows fell on the ends of the line. A desperate attempt was made to dislodge the Australians from the centre of Pozieres, while a division of Germans fell upon the South Africans defending Fourcaux Wood, Delville Wood, and Longueval Village.

"British aviators gave notice overnight of largo concentrations of Germans at the village of Flcis, and when the Bavarians attacked, our trenches had been reinforced and the gunners were ready. A Brandenburg brigade charged eight times before Guillemont. and each time was driven hack with heavy losses. Our artillery was particularly effective. Thousands of Grey Coats fell before Pozieres and Bazentin. Seven Germans captured near Pozieres said they wore the .only survivors of their company. The German attacks continued during Monday night and Tuesday. Most of the assaulting columns failed to reach our lines. While the gallant Australians were clearing the last brickheaps of Pozieres other battalions were advancing over the rest of the village. The enemy's salient at Thiepval is strongly threatened."