SOMME BATTLE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17284, 27 September 1916, Page 7

SOMME BATTLE.

BRITISH FRONT. ENEMY. ATTACK FAILS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON. September 25. Sir Douglas Haig reports:— The Germnns attacked eastward of Conrceletto, but wero repulsed. Onr mines northward of Ncuve Cba- ! elle and northward of Hulluch did uuch damage to the enemy's works. We raided tho enemy trenches at several points. SUCCESSFUL EVERYWHERE. CAPTURE OF MORTAL AND LESBCEUF.

A MILE ADVANCE.

(Received September 26, 0.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 20.

Sir Douglas Hnig reports:—To-day vvs were everywhere successful. Wo stormed positions on a six-mile front botwoon Comble3 and Martinpuich to a depth of more than a mile. We captured tho strongly fortified villages Morval and Lesbceufs, practically severing tho communications of Combles. Tho enemy's losseß were heavy. Morvai stands on the heights north of Combles, and with subterranean quarries, trenches and wire entanglements it constituted a formidable fortress. The possession of Morval and Lesbceufs is of considerable military importance. Many prisoners, machineguns and other material were taken. Our losses in relation to the results heretofore were comparatively small. Six enemy aeroplanes were dostroyed on Sunday, and three were brought down damaged. Three of cars are missing.

Tho High Commissioner reports: — LONDON, September -'(3. Tho Britisn official report says: — South of tho Ancre tho British attacked and were everywhere successful. The enemy'b positions wore stormed on a front of six miles between Combles and Martinpuich to a depth of more than a mile. We captured the strongly fortified villages of Morval and Lesbceufs, and also several lines of trenches, practically severing the enemy communications with Combles. A large number of prisoners and war material were taken. In comparison with the results achieved our losses were small.

WITH THE FRENCH.

RANCOURT CAPTURED. ADVANCE NORTH-EAST OF COMBLES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received September 26, 6.50 p.m.) PARIS, September 26. A communique says:—Aftei a violent battlo on tho Franco-British front tho French extended their lines northwest of Combles and captured Ranjourt. Four hundred unwounded prisoners were taken.

The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, September W 5.

A French official report says:—North of tho Somme the violent battle was reraraed on Monday on the Franco-Brit-ish front. The French infantry ad-

vanccd their lines to the boundaries of Fregicourt. and conquered all the land between there and Hill .148, and also captured the village of Rancourt, which is now in our hands.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

(Received September 26, 10.35 p.m.) A Paris communique says:—

Tho French infantry, assuming the offensive towards noon, attacked simultaneously the position between Combles and Rancourt and tho defences accumulated between Rancourt and tho Somme. We carried our lines north-east of Combles to tho southern outskirts of Fiogicourt, and conquered powerfully organised ground from Fregicourt to Hill l!-8. We extended our positions east of the JJapaumo road to a dcptii of a kilometre from the Combles road to Bouchavesnos. Wo carried by asstult a height north-west of Bouchavesnes, and reached Hill UK), southcast of the village. We carried, further pouth, several trench systems near the northern canal from tho Bapaume road to the Somme.

Our aeroplanes dropped 1.30 bombs on railway stations at . Hani. Hombleux and Mannncourt and on "an aviation ground at Vraigncs.

THE BLAST OF DEATH.

STUPENDOUS BOMBARDMENT,

MAKES OTHERS APPEAR MERE CHILD'S PLAY.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

(Received September 27, 12.55 a.m.) PARIS, September 26.

What is going to happen on tho Somme front cannot be foretold or exactly foreseen. For seventy-two hours tho bombardment has been stupendous in its intensity, smashing up the German lines. French and British guns of all calibres are belching forth thousands of tons of projeotiles and tho earth tremors reeemole earthquakes. Previous artillery preparations in Picardy or at' Verdun were child's piny compared with the one now proceeding on the Somme. Aviators aro assisting, dropping hundreds of bombs on points of strategic importance. A great number of' ammunition depots Inivo been blown up, aud stations burnt.

THE GERMAN SIDE.

REPULSE OF ALLIES CLAIMED. (Received September 26, 5.50 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, September 25. A German communique says:—Enemy advances at Rancourt and Bouchavesnes failed. ENEMY PRESS AMAZED. TERRIFIC FORCE OF SOMME OFFENSIVE. " The Times " Service. (Received September 26, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, Soptember 26. The German Press is amazed at Britain's quickness in raising a citizen army, and at the continued influx of dominion troops, pointing out that theso factors are responsible for tho terrific force of the Somme offensive and warning Germans not to expect a speedy termination, but to prepare for greater sacrifices to savo the Fatherland.

The "Frankfurter Zeitung" admitted that Germany is now using Turkey for Germany's defence, and draws a parallel between tho Turco-German and British Empire relations. " We erroneously thought that the dominions would leave the Empire, but they did not want to bo free. Wo must

establish political Turco-German rolations similar to those between England and the dominions."