THE CAMPAIGNS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17284, 27 September 1916, Page 6

THE CAMPAIGNS.

Asoiues vigorous advance of British and French, in co-operation is reported this morning, the front of tho offensive extending from Martinpuich to the Somme. Along tho whole front, with tho exception of the small sector of Comblcs, substantial progress was made. Interest naturally centres in the fate of Comblcs, the intensely strong position in the centre. The communiques do not suggest that any direct assault was made on this town, thongh inevitably with a battle raging for six miles on either side there would bo much activity in the trenches, and attempts would be made in the course of the Biege warfare to capture useful points on the outskirts. Possibly the Allies hoped to complete the isolation of the town, and they came close to succeeding. On tho left the British rushed the villages of Lcsboeui's and Mortal on the main road from tho north, while the French on the right advanced to the borders of Fregicourt, leaving the Germans with an exceedingly narrow passage by which to main- ( tain communication with Comblcs. This does not complete the story of tho battle, because on the Peronne-Ba-paume road the French swept through the village of Rancourt. and to the south they pushed east of the road for a, kilometre, carrying a fortified height northeast of Bouchavesnes and reaching Hill 130 to the south-west. Nearer the Somme they advanced from Hill 76 to tho canalised stream of La Tortille, a mile and a half from Peronno, but naturally they were here in contact with highly organised and intensely ttrong systems of defence. Probably •sie most noteworthy success, of the whole movement was the capture of Morval by the British. This village, lying rather more than a mile to the north of Combles, became of special value with the collapso of the enemy's resistance in the village group of Lon-gueval-Guillentont-Ginchy, for it cov-

ered tho northern flank of Comblcs. Sir Douglas Haig speaks of the strength of tho fortifications, on which enormous labour must have been lavished during the past month. Tho main enemy lino of defence is now only a mile and a half from the new British front. Since tho beginning of July British and French have advanced on a front of twenty miles to a depth of between fivo and sis miles.

Thero is singularly little news from tho other theatres. Tho Austrian communique indicates that tho Russians attacked in forco in Gnlicia, but wo have no report on the subject from Petrograd." A brief message speaks of a substantial Russo-Rumanian success in tho Dobrudja. In Macedonia the activity on the left wing has increased, and considerable fighting is in progress in tho Fiorina district. The Italian reports are chiefly concerned with the struggle in the mountains of tho upper Cismon valley, where the Italians arc endeavouring to break through into tho Fiemmo valley, in the hope, apparently, of turning the whole Austrian position in tlyj southern Trentiuo. Such a development is not altogether out of the question, though the season is too advanced to permit of present optimism.