THE ALLIES' LINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 4353, 25 September 1916, Page 5

THE ALLIES' LINE.

BRITISH IMPROVE POSITIONS. FURTHER HEADWAY MADE, HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received Sept. 24, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 24. Sir Douglas Haig reports heavy,, mutual artillery fire and isolated actions in which we improved our positions and pushed forward detachment-,, in several directions. We further advanced south of the Ancro and captured a strongly fortified system or trenches east of Courcelette. Our line was advanced on a front o’: about half a mile.

A counter-attack west of Mouquet Farm with great violence was repulsed with heavy losses. Our artillery exploded an ammunition dump east of Bethune. In a later report Sir Douglas Haig says:—We continued to improve our position southward of the Ancre, pushing detachments into the enemy’s advanced tren'ches.

During Friday’s bombardment ten enemy gunpits were destroyed and fourteen severely damaged, while five ammunition pits were exploded. To-day our artillery caused a big fire in a village largely used! for transport supplies. Fifty of our aeroplanes successfully raided an important railway junction and did much damage, including the destruction of two ammunition trains. There were other successful raids on railway works and aerodromes.

FRENCH NEARSMG COMBLES. FORTIFIED HOUSE CAPTURED. ALLIES’ TOTAL OF PRISONERS. GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received Sept. 24. 5.5 p.m.) PARIS. Sept. 24. A communique says :—We captured by surprise a fortified house on the outskirts of Combles. Further east we carried several portions of trenches. Our curtain of fire frustrated an enemy attack south of Randcourt. The total number of prisoners taken from July 1 to September 18 is 55,800, of whom 34,050 were taken by the French. Our patrols, in passing forward from the southern outskirts of Combles, found numerous dead. Tlie enemy last night were generally quiet. There is great aerial activity on tho entire Somme front. Tho latest French communique reports violent artillerving in the Bouehasvesnes, Belloy, and Berny' sectors. An eneiny attack southward of Col Sainte Marie, in the Vosges, was repulsed. Our airmen bombed military establishments at Ludwigshaven and Palatinate and a big! factory at Mannheim, causing a vast five, while several explosions -were observed. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Official: In aerial battles yesterday we downed eleven enemy machines.

GERMANS’ FRIGHTFUL LOSSES. (Australian and NiZ. Cable Assn.) (Received Sept. 24, 5.5 p.m.) PARIS, Sept. 24. “La Liberte” publishes a statement by a French staff officer that the Germans in the battle on September 20 lost at least 30,000. men.

GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS. MILITARY CROSS ANI) D.C.M. AWARDS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.;' LONDON. Sept. 22. Military Crosses have been awarded to tho following New Zealanders: Captain John Cowles, of the Rifle Brigade, for gallantly leading a raid wherein thirty-three of the enemy were killed and only seven New Zealanders wounded. Captain Alfred Powley, of the Rifle Brigade, for conducting a trench raid. Though the party was heavily encumbered liy eighty wounded’ one deaa and nine prisoners, Captain Powley got all in safely. Lieutenant Philip Ellis, Field Artillery, for assisting in. removing . a largo amount -of ammunition and high explosives when the gun epaulment ignited. He also removed the gun and prevented the spread of the fire, being under shell fire all the time, and his own ammunition exploding.. Lieutenant Edward Kibblewhite. o': the Wellington Regiment. > He took command when his senior officer was injured, rallied the men and drove out the enemy from advanced positions. Distinguished Conduct Medals have been awarded to the following :v Private Frost, of Wellington Regiment, for assisting an officer to cover the withdrawal of raiders. He twice passed the enemy’s wire and rescued tw r o wounded men. Privates. Lepper, McCormick, and Nimmo, of the Rifle Brigade, for bringing in wounded under heavy fire. Private Potter, of-Wellington Regiment, for gallantly loading the . way in a raid on an enemy trench.