BREACH IN ENEMY'S LINES

Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 33, 24 October 1916, Page 6

BREACH IN ENEMY'S LINES

TO DEPTH OF OVER fl MILES. EVE OF GREAT EVENTS IN EAST. GERMAN CRUISER TORPEDOED SERBS' FURTHER ADVANCE. GREEK KING MARKING TIME.

BREACH IN THE ENEMY'S LINE. DEPTH OF OVER 11 MILES. NEW YORK, Oct. '2O. D»»*pau:hcs from French Field Headquarters declare that the French victory at Sailly-Saillisel has increased the Allied breach in the German Hue t-o a maximum depth of oyer 11 miles on the Somine. The Allies' position is by far the most effective, they being able to assault simultaneously on three sides. The Germans, fearing this development. are constructing tunnels on a i>cale hitherto unequalled, sheltering I(NMt and providing for rapid transfer underground from place to place. The tunnels are equipped with miniature railways, transporting machine guns and ammunition to the exits where lifts transport the guns and their crew* to the surface of or permit the descent to the tunnels and to other points with the maximum of rapidity. WITH THE BRITISH. TRENCHES RAIDED AT LOOS. LONDON, Oct. 20. General Sir Douglas Haig reports,: We raided trenches at Loos. The enemy shelled the Stuff and Schwaben Redoubts. CO I'NTER-ATTACKS STOPPED. LONDON, Oct. 20. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: here lias been heavy rain, all the morning. We slightly advanced our line at Batte de Varlencourt, and our barrage stopped counter-attacks. GENERAL HAIG'S SUMMARY, as,m PRISONERS SINCE JULY 1.. LONDON, Oct. 20. General Sir Douglas Haig, summing up operations sine© the last summary, says: In the area between Thiepval and Le Sars wo have gradually won a seri* of strong positions. The fighting was heavy and prolonged, and the enemy resisted stubbornly until we surrounded on« place after another. Large num-, bera of prisoneirs were taken. We had to repel repeated counterattacks. Generally these were stopped by artillery and machine guns, but where the enemy traversed the barrage and Teached the lines he was thrown back by- infantry and rifle firo with •heavy losses. or twice he obattained a foothold in our trench, but was promtply driven out with the bayonet. The number of prisoners taken since the beginning of July totals 28,918. One of our divisions, which had previously had many days of hard fights ingj took prisoner in action on October 7, eight officers and 474 men. A captured document, from German Headquarters, acknowledging the suiperiority of British airmen, suggests methods of reorganisation, by which it was hoped that it would be possible •'at least for eome hours to contest the enemy's supremacy in the air." Assisted by aeroplanes our artillery established and maintained a clear superiority over the enemy. It supported the infantry, disorganised arrangement*, behind the enemy's front lines, and also hindered the arrival of reserves and supplies. It allows no rest day or night, and materially assists in wearing down the enemy, and was used with more vital success in battl*. The infantry has shown marked endurance and devotion. Captured documents bear clear testimony to the effect of our continuous artillery fire, the dash and discipline of our infantry attacks and the quality of the men. FRENCH OPERATIONS. COUP DE -MAIN REPULSED. LONDON, Oct. 20. A French communique state*: We repulsed a coup de main in Lorraine. COUNTER-ATTACK -SHATTERED. PARIS. Oct, 20. A communique states: Our artillery repulsed waves of the enemy leaving tbeir trenchc? in a v.iin attempt to counter-attack on the lines northward ■ad eastward of Saillr-SaiUisel. The enemy's losses were serious We progressed afresh between and Maisonette.

CAPTURE OF SAILLY-SAILLISEL. LE TRANSLOY IN DANGER, tv ts , m LONDON, Oct. 20. lhe 4 Daily Telegraph V Paris oorrespondent states, "Owing to the loss of Sailly-Saillisel the Germans are hastily forming a fresh lino of defences between Warlencourt and Le Transloy, but Lc Transloy is in imminent danger of capture by the British, which would probably compel the Germans to withdraw their firs t line three to four miles eastward St. Vaast Wood' is virtually lost and the Germans have already removed their artillery to Vaux Wood, miles eastward, under harassing French fire." COMMAND OF THE AIR. GERMANY'S SERVICE NEGLIGIBLE PARIS, Oct. 20. "Le Majtin's' correspondent states, "British airmen in the recent operations made 3000 trips across the enemy's lines to the enemy's dozen over theirs Before every attack the troops resting behind the lines reproduce the plan of the enemy's complicated works from the airmen's photographs and rehearse the method of capture." ALLIES' WINTER CAMPAIGN, NO REST FOR. THE ENEMY. PARIS, Oct. 20. The newspaper 'lntransigeant' states, "The Anglo-French high commands have decided to prosecute a most vigorous winter war, not permitting the Germans to transfer troops or keep reserves in the home garrisons for the spring campaign. The Anglo-Freneh are making all arrangements for winter comforts in the trenches." AUSTRALIANS INI FRANCE. FAR BELOW STRENGTH. MELBOURNE, Oct. 20. General Sir Haig has cabled to Rt. Hon. W .M. Hughes (Australian Prime Minister), "The Australian divisions in France are far below their .strength through drafts not arriving in sufficient numbers. The divisions fought splendidly, but cannot continue to achieve results unless their strength is kept up. The success of the past few months justifies aboslute confidence in our power to win final victory, hut it is not yet won. To complete our work and secure an enduring peace the utmost efforts of the Empire and the Allies are required for a long time yet. I hope strong drafts will be. despatched and the strength maintained." ALLIES' STRATEGIC PURPOSE. NEW YORK, Oct. 20. The "New York World's' London correspondent interviewed LieutenantColonel Maurice (Director of Military Operations) who said, "The main stra : tegic purpose of the Allies' operations on the Somme was to retain the "bulk of the German forces on this front which amounts to five-eighths of the German Army and this purpose lias been achieved. The 'British are now fighting lon a jumping-off place from which to attack Bapaume. While Bapaume and Peronne are not of firstclas.s strategic value their capture will be morally important." Replying to a question, LieutenantColonel Maurice said there was no reason tor the lack of confidence in the Rumanians' ability to make an effective stand. They had enough men, with good leadership, and there was no ground for doubting their ability. j PERONNE AND BAPAUME. PREPARING THK-GERMAN PUBLIC AMSTERDAM, October 21. Tlie Frankfurter Zeitung, in a threecohinin leading article, reviews the war situation, candidly preparing tlie publift'or the fall of Peronne ami Bapaume. The paper si-.ys that even if thev fall the Entente wild not have won the war, as there arc other obstacles eastwards, and '-oni-hidt's: •• Germany must not expert lhe generals to do impossibilities." Tlie Frankfurter Zeitung, prior to the fall of Combles. declared that the place was of no importance whatever. SUBSTANTIAL BRITISH ADVANCE AT SCJIWABKN REDOUBT. LONDON. October s ir Douglas Ilaig reports:—A strong enemy attack on the Schwaben redoubt was repulsed with heavy losses. Subsequently. nil a front of .ViOO yards, we advanced our lino from MOO to 500 yards. Wr captured the Stuff and Be- ' trp-nehes. beside? advanced posts 1 no?:h-«v.s; of Schwa hen. We took prisoners some hundreds of tnen.

FRENCH HEAVILY ENGAGED, PARIS, October 22. A communique states:—Multiplied violent infantry attempts were made to expel us from Sailly Saillisel. Our curtain, fire thrice broke the assaulting waves, with sanguinary losses, without their 'approaching our line at any point. An attack was made.with the same fierceness on our positions between Biaches anil La Maisonette. It was particularly desperate in the Blaisewood region, the enemy using, flaming liquids. They were bloodily repulsed along the whole front, but gained a few advanced positions of a trench north-east of Blaisewood. Meanwhile, we captured the woods northward of Chaulnes.