SOMME BATTLE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17329, 18 November 1916, Page 9

SOMME BATTLE.

t BRITISH FRONT. SHELLING ON ANCRE. The High Commissioner reports: LONDON, November 16. A British official report says:—During the night there was considerable shelling by the enemy northward and southward of the Acre. Otherwise tlioro is nothing to report. ARTILLERY ACTIONS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. (Received November 17, 9.35 p.m*) LONDON, November 17. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—The enemy bombarded our new front northward of the Ancre. • Our artillery caused severe explosions. We bombarded the enemy lines in the Souchez and Armentiem. areas. WITH THE FRENCH. ENEMY EJECTED. The High Commissioner reports: LONDON. November 16. A French official message says: South of the Somme m the. night we attacked eastwards of Pressoire m the part occupied by the enemy, where the French resisted energetically, finally ejecting the Germans after stubborn fighting. _____ FRENCH THROW ENEMY FROM SAILLISEL. Aua<7 alion and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. deceived November 17, 9.35 p.m.) PARIS, November 17. . A communique says :-Enemy parties which gained a footing, in the north-east portion of Saillisel were ejected. The artillery fire is vigorous m the Ablwncouft region. _ ENEMY’S HEAVY LOSSES. LONDON, November. 16. A Paris communique says:— After an obstinate fight we drove out the enemy from St Pierre Vaast Wood. Our gain is entirely held. The enemy sustained tho heaviest losses in yesterday’s attacks. They employed troops belong to three divisions. THE REGENT ADVANCE. ROYAL CONGRATULATIONS. . Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, November 16.. King George, in a message to Sir Douglas Haig, heartily congratulated him on the great success of his gallant troops during the past three days at the Ancre. This further capture of first line trenches, under special difficulties owing to tho recent wot weather, the ICing said, redounds to the credit of all ranks. GERMAN EXPLANATIONS. Australian end N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 17, 5.5 p.m.) ROTTERDAM, November 16. The “Berliner Tageblatt” commenting on the. British advance on thd Ancre says that, it followed, q, • bom-

bardment lasting twelve days with continually increasing guns, which were fed with as much ammunition as they wanted. The newspaper admits that the attacks on the southern sector were stronger than the defence. The English were fresh and strong. The ‘ ‘ Frankfurter Zeitung ” 6ays: —“ Hie English gained merely a tactical success, which was unavoidable in such a long defensive battle.” The “Kolnische Zeitung” says:—“The English employed the whole fury of heaped-up materials and projectiles of tho heaviest calibre. With such a tremendous expenditure of ammunition an offensive oan always be carried out after levelling the trenches.” Reuter's Telegrams. (Received November 17, 9,40 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 16. The “Berliner Tageblatt” commenting on the Ancre advance admits that the British have shrewdly economised their men and are using them to advantage now. (Received November 18, 12.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 17. Major Moraht in the “Berliner Tageblatt” says“ Recent events in the west must be regarded as a seri T eras warning for the futhre. Germany is in nowise blind to England’s great technical achievements.” THE GERMAN SIDE. OFFICIAL REPORTS. > * Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and Reutar. (Received November 17, 9.35 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 16. A German communique says: We repulsed . British partial attacks east and south-east of Beaumont-Hamel and stormed part of St Pierre Yaast wood. THE VICTORY ANALYSED. • VAST DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. A BRILLIANT TRIUMPH. Australian and N.Z. Cable Aesooiation. LONDON, November 16. Only now are the public beginning fully to realise the magnitude of the British victory. The latest accounts by correspondents emphasise the completeness of the triumph and the extreme difficulties of the attack. The conquered sector is described as one of the strongest on the west front. First-hand accounts show that the mazy intricacy of the trenches _ baffles description. Places over a mile in breadth were of a pattern which is compared to a tangle of quickset hedges in winter. The barbed-wire defences consisted of four systems two hundred yards wide. 'Hie weather added enormously to the difficulties. Extraordinary stories are related of the attackers’ difficulty in keeping touch in the darkness and fog. It was impossible to tell whether the next trench was full or deserted, or how much wire remained standing. Accurate reporting was scarcely possible, especially m the absence of aerial observation. These difficulties often accounted for the attackers missing batches of Germans, and necessitating methodical rounding *up all day. The mud was not as bad south of the Ancre, but it was serious on the lower ground, especially north of the Somme, where the trenches were full of water. There were several narrow escapes from drowning in the darkness. The conditions were unsuitable for the “Tanks,” rnd tho services of the two units were all the more meritorious. All tho correspondents dwell on the nonchalance and cheeriness of the British troops on the Somme, Borne of whom sat carelessly on the parapets whilst others strolled in search of relics with a serenity that passed all precedent. The same quality alone enabled them to

reach their goal in the face of unprecedented difficulties. The absence of German for retaliation is not explained, since it is known that recently they had about a thousand guns on the Anore sector. Though there is no disposition to depreciate tho German troops generally, the victory again proves the waning German morale. Never have such a number not offered resistance. Thirteen hundred men and twentynine officers were rounded up in a series of underground refuges on the south bank of the Ancre, but they made no attempt to fight. It is remarkable how few bayonet wounds were inflicted during the first two days. Of tho British casualties the vast bulk were due to shrapnel and machine guns. Oue correspondent sums up tho victory as one of tho most brilliant successes of the Somme offensive, if not of the whole war.