SEVERE FIGHTING AT EAUCOURT L'ABBAYE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 237, 4 October 1916, Page 5

SEVERE FIGHTING AT EAUCOURT L'ABBAYE.

BRITISH CHARGE FULL TILT AT THE HANOVERIANS. LONDON, October 3. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—'jXhere has been severe fightings in and about Eaueourt l'Abbaye. The enemy has regained a footing in the buildings of the village. "We improved our position couth-west of Gueudecourt and eastward and northward of Courcelette. "Our aeroplanes bombed several points of military importance. Many enemy machines have been brought down." A Parie message 6tates:— The British infamtry advanced with characteristic spirit to capture Eaucourt l'Abbaye. "Tanks" greatly aided the troops, whose objectives were attained in less than two hours. The hottest fighting was at Eaucourt, where the Germans, who had barricaded the ruins, fought with desperate courage. The British, charge went full tilt at two Hanoverian battalions holding the north-west corner of the village, and drove them out. Our gunners did the rest, inflicting heavy, losses on .the retreating enemy. .'• Two enemy companies totalling 500 men were cut off and made prisoner near the Fters road. Finally, the British established their lines at Warlencourt HOI, north of Eaucourt l'Abbaye, the last eminence hiding Bapaume.