SOMME BATTLE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17264, 4 September 1916, Page 7

SOMME BATTLE.

THE BRITISH FRONT.

DESPERATE ATTACKS. , ENEMY SUFFER HEAVTLX * —- The High Commissioner reports t LONDON, September 1. British official reports say that subsequent to yesterday's attack at tho High Wood the enemy made five further counter-attacks on a 3000 yards front from Ginchy to High Wood,' preceded by an intense bombardment. In four attacks tho enemy, with considerable forces, was defeated with heavy losses. In the fifth attack he succeeded in penetrating the advance toenches on a small frontage at two points.

Later. \ ': A British official message says that .7 further details of the hostile" attack £; yesterday indicate that, the GermafC^'' casualties were very severe. * lu addition to being met everywhere by rifla -Are the attackers u

' Concentrated fire at vanoug places from bfcrenoh mortars and massed machine guns. At several places we took lull •advantage of tlie excellent targets. o:\%_ ' :l ; -. TEENCHIS REGAINED. ’ ( The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, September 2. >■ A British official message says:—We 'drove the enemy out •of the portion of a small area recaptured on Thursday north-west of Delvillo Wood. MANY AERIAL COMBATS. t _ liter’s MssxmuLONDON, September 2. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—There •Was great aerial activity yesterday and many combats, in which five enemy machines were destroyed and at least, seven others were brought down damaged. Wo undertook several successful bombing expeditions. Five i British aeroplanes were lost. OTHER SECTORS. USE OF GAS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, September 1. Sir Douglas Haig reports : Batteries east of Beauains caused a big explosion. We liberated gas on the Yprcs salient With good results. WITH THE FRENCH. ARTILLERY WORK ON SOMME. The High Commissioner reports : LONDON, September 1. A French official message states: On the Somme there was artillery activity in the regions Estrees and boyooourt. GERMANS REgItN TRENCHES. The High Commissioner reports LONDON, September 2. The French official report says:— The Germans made violent repeated ; attacks on portions of the trenches we took on Thursday south of Estrees. They reoccupiod portions, at a cost or sensible losses. \ ■ ARTILLERY duels. • Australian snd N.£ Cable Association. PARIS, September 2. , A communique says:—There were brisk artillery dueb on the Somme sec'.tor. ' THE GERMAN SIDE. ' CLAIM SUCCESSES. LONDON, September 1. A German communique says:—Wo regained ground lost at Longueval and Belville Woo'd. Saxon counter-attacks in the Estrees-Soyecourt sector drove back’the enemy attacks in adjacent sectors. . • • , > ; %• LOSS IN MEN. V ‘ BRITISH CASUALTIES IN 1 OFFENSIVE. LONDON, September 1. The “Daily Telegraph” states that i casualties published: in August totalled 4693 officers and 123,097 men, of whom 1166 officors and 19,520 men were killed. T The casualties published m Juno ' . totalled 31,601, and in July 59,071. K ■ • * .. ALLIED AIR RAID. GHENT BOMBED. AMSTERDAM, September 1. Allied airmen bombed Ghent work- . Shops, killing twenty-two persons and ' injuring forty.