The Picardy Battle.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 259, 18 October 1916, Page 5

The Picardy Battle.

British Gain Their First Objective. Perritory Held Overlooking Bapaume. [PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.] [AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] London, October 17. Ti e Press Bureau makes the authoritative statement that as C result of the three months’ battle on the Somme the goal was nine-mile range of low hills from Thiepval to Combles. This was won. It is the main watershed of the whole svstem of hills stretching from the Somme valley to a tract of low ground between Lens and Cambrai, beyond which lie the dead flats round Douai. We now look past Bapaume to a ridge fledged with woods, not yet shelled, but none 500 feet above the sea like those captured. The worst came first, and we are over it- Moreover, we have captured a ridge much eroded by water, full of tortuous little valleys. The minor ridges and slopes before us are much smoother. The chief advantage of the high ground is that it gives superior power of observation. While we were fighting up the slopes of Mametz, Montauban and Thiepval the enemv had the observation. We have the observation now, and will not lose it even when the Germans are driven northwards across the upper valley of the Ancre. The whole opposite slope beyond the Ancre is of comparatively regular surface and even gradient, and is commanded by the higher ground at Martinpuich. The Germans in 1914 definitely chose the front as the line of highest ground between the French plain and the Belgian plain. The ridge is, happily, valuable because its rear is served by a vitally important system of railway transport. The Germans have been beaten on the line their commanders chose as the best possible ,and must now fight upon a line which is weak itself, and the fall of which must bring about other disasters. A TANK’S CREW SACRIFICED fO PRESERVE STRUCTURAL SECRETS. [Received iS, 9.55 a.m.) New York, October 17. M. Stephane Lausanne, ex-editor of the Paris “Matin,” is visiting America on a Government mission. He says the British were compelled to sacrifice the crew of a tank in order to prevent its secret construction becoming known to the Germans. The tank was beyond control, steering straight for the German lines, therefore the British shelled it and blew it to pieces. There are now a hundred tanks, each with two machine-guns, on the Somme front. The Allies are improving their position daily, and also reducing their losses- Combles was captured with the loss of only 5000, due to the use of heavy artillery to clear the ground before the infantry advance. BIR DOUGLAS NAIC’S DESPATCHES. London, October 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The enemy’s losses in attacking the Schwaben redoubt on Sunday night were exceedingly heavy. Our losses were very slight. [kkutkr's telegram.] Received 18, 11.5 a.m.) London, October 17. Sir Douglas Haig says:—We entered enemy trenches west of Serre. Otherwise there is nothing to report. SCHWABEN ANO STUFF REDOUBTS. [yr strwxan and new zealand cable association.] London, October 17. Ihe ’ Daily Chronicle” states that the Schwaben redoubt was one of the main buttresses of Thiepval. The difficulties of its capture were immense. It was strengthened by every conceivable means. The British crept up by inches until the defenders, consisting of two regiments, held onlv the crown of the hill. When the assault was made on Friday the excellent British barrage completely cut off reinforcements, and large numbers surrendered. The Stuff redoubt was further to the east, and was important tactically and scarcely less formidable. One British company captured it at less cost than anyone anticipated. It was one of the most notable individual feats in the war, for the total casualties were about one-third the number of prisoners. FIGHTING NORTH OF ARRAS. '■ London, October 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Our heavy artillery and trench mortars successfully carried out an organised bombardment of the enemy’s lines in the neighbourhood of Neuville St. Vaast, north of ArrasOur aeroplanes dropped bombs with excellent effect on the railway station, also on transports moving behind the enemy’s lines. FRENCH HOLD THEIR CAINS. FURTHER PROGRESS AT SAILLY SAILLISEL. Paris, October 17. A communique states:—South of the Somme, we repulsed a violent counter-attack eastward of Bemy-en-Santerre, and captured a small wood between Genermont and Ablaincourt. (Received 18, 10.40 a.m.) London, October 17. A French communique states:—We captured a new group Ahouses at Sailly-Saifiisei. A violent counter-attack succeeded in penetrating our first line, but we immediately threw the enemy out. THE GERMAN STORY. (Received 18, 2.30 p.m.) London, October 17. A German communique says: —The enemy’s attacKs near Gueudecourt broke down. Other attacks near Sailly Saillisel and Fresnes failed. Hand-to-hand fighting is proceeding. We repulsed the French north of Mesnil.