THE SOMME.

Evening Star, Issue 16198, 21 August 1916, Page 6

THE SOMME.

THE BRITISH ADVANCE. VALUABLE GAINS, ENEMY BADLY SHAKEN. LONDON, August 20. (Received August 21. at Q.A a.m.) A correspondent with the British Headquarters in Franco says : The week-end fighting developed into one of the most important and successful battles of the western offensive. Besides making satisfactory progress towards comwvin of the ridge, we captured 1,000 prisoners and much material. Several formidable, strong points were destroyed, and the way has been prepared for further progress. We were most successful in the neighborhood of the Leipsig Redoubt and "iMartinpuich. The enemy _ morale was badly shaken under our incessant punishment, and a whole squad of Saxons deserted, behm unable to face the music. ° ALL GAINS HELD. LONDON, August 20. (Received August 21, at 11.35 a.m.) Sir Douglas Haig reports: There were bombing encounters last night at some between the Somme and the Ancre. The Gormans have not made anv serious attempt to recover the ground we'eantured on 1 nday. 1

We successfully raided other pari* of the line, and inflicted considerable casualties. EAST OF THE MEUSE. FRENCH HOLD FLEURY. PARIS, August 20. (Received August 21, at 9.55 a.m.) A communique states : Our fire repulsed all the Germans' violent counter-attacks on Floury, which followed a prolonged and intense enemy bombardment. The enemy suffered great losses. BERLIN'S VERSSON. 'The Times.' LONDON, August 20. (Received August 21, at 12.30 p.m.) A German communique- states • The activity on the Somnie has gradually decreased Isolated British attacks northwest of the Pozieres-Fourneaux road were repulsed. Eight British and four French divisions participated in the attack on August 18 Ihe loss of Maury (east of Verdun) is admitted in the communique. THE ISONZO. CADORNA'R GOOD PROSPECTS. 'The Times:' LONDON, August 20. (Received August 21, at 9.5 a.m.) Colonel Repington perdicts the speedy capture by the Italians of the heights cast of Gorma, enabling the Italians to assail the Ca-rso Plateau from two sides. General Cndorna is carrying out a settled plan, which has so far been completely successful, and his beginning justifies us in expecting a fortunate sequel.

AUSTRIAN LOSSES NEARLY 90,000. ROME, August 20. (Received August 21, at' 11.10 a.m.) The official cstimato of the Austrian losses on the Tsonzo between August 6 and 16 a:-e 65,000, exclusive of 22 000 taken .prisoner. ' RUSSJA'S OFFENSIVE. SURPRISED THE ENEMY. 'The Times.' LONDON, August 20. (Received August .21, at 12.30 p.m.) ' The Times's' correspondent at Amsterdain states that Prince flohenlohe Schiellingfurst, speaking at Berlin on the occasion of the Emperor Franz Joseph's birthclay, said that the Austro-German successes in 1915 justified the belief that the war was ending, but while tho AustroGermans were earnestly watching for the Anglo-French western" oft'ensivo a new thundercloud had burst with unforeseen violence on the east front. The* Russfan Bear was anything but slaughtered, and was pouring out an inexhaustible torrent of men equipped with the most modern weapons. Noverthelesu, he had reassurod himself in his belief of an ultimate AustroGerman victory.