THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 July 1916, Page 3

THE WAR

LEIiSCIKIC iKtiBGUAPK —CGPXIUGHT. j ' • [rxu ev.sM* association.j. I (Australia and New Zealand Cable Service;. THE WEST tmNl. London, July IU. ♦Sir Douglas Haig reports:—After six desperate attacks the Germans re-en-tered Tronee Wood, suffering the heaviest casualties. fighting continues. We gained a lodgment at Bois do Manielss. The enemy's defences at Bois dC|.Ma[netz have hitherto resisted all efforts. We fllso gained ground at Oviliers and BoitsUle. Our aviators made several successful attacks on troops detraining, ammunition depot® and an aerodrome. Paris, July 11. The capture of Binciies is important because it is practically in the suburbs of I'eronne, though it is on the left bank of the canal and strongly fortified. The Germans are thus driven north of the Somme. The French have also taken part of Barleirx, only two miles' from the ChnuVnes railway. The Germans south of Barleux are hanging on to Villers, but the position is insecure. The German salient, including Chaulnes, Roye, Lassigny and Noyon is seriously threatened!. The French hold the whole of Santerre plateau, whereof the soil is hard limestone and favourable to the movement of big guns. The capture is the result of two days' artillery preparation, enabling the French to advance at noon on Sunday. The infantry, on crowing two entrenched ridges, reached a broad plateau 330 feet above the sea overlooking the whole valley. By three o'clock Bi- 1 aches was .attacked on three sides and j capturedi. The survivors of the garrison retired along the soufcHfrn road towards Peronne just in time to escape encirclement. Communications in the German rear ai'e thus uncertain and dangerous. Many prisoners were hunger-stricken. The enemy resisted longer on the right of BLaches, having free ground for artillery, but dared not risk heavy guns on the narrow strip between the firing line and the river. The fight continues at BarTettx, where the French in the night cafvturea a line of trenches extending to Maisonette Farm, which caps the plateau.

HIGH, .COMMISSION-MR'S REPORT. - A French official message states:— North of the Soinme the day waa calm. South of the Somme we progreswd during the course of the day between Biaches and Barleux. On the .boundaries of Biaches we capture? a small fort where an enemy detachment still held out, taking prisoner 113, "including ten officers. South of Biaches brilliant,attacks oy us on Hill 97, which dominates the river enabled us to capture this height strongly held by the enemy. We also carriedi a email wood situated north of La Maisonette. We brought down four German aero, planes. . 1 ' At Verdun there is 'heavy reoiprocal bombardment in tEe regions of Froideterre, Fleury and Famin Wood. TURKISH CLAIMS. Amsterdam, July 11. A Turkish communique states:—We defeated the Russians near Sinekon on the way to Hamadan. They fled to STneh where they are besiegedi. The Russian offensive in the Caucasus, near Tschorok, failed.. We sank four enemy transports and several sailing vessels in tie Black Sea. We ignited a big petroleum depot at Novo Rossis. 'I RUSSIA'S ADVANCE. London, July 10. ' The Morning Poet's PetrOgrad correspondent says:—Brussiloff is steadily pushing forward his flanking move--ment to within four miles of the Stokhod. The Germans were caught in a right angle by the flanking operations, and completely defeated:. They are hurriedly retreating across the river. A regiment of Hungarian cavalry was sacrificed to protect the retreat.