BRITISH ASSAULT ON WHOLE LINE.

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 174, 25 July 1916, Page 5

BRITISH ASSAULT ON WHOLE LINE.

EXCELLENT ABTTLLEBY 'PRE- .••■•■ • : PARATION. V , „.

A FRIGHTFUL STRIfbGLE.

aastralian nad N.Z. Cable Assbeiation (Received July 24, 11.55 a^ml) \?r . . •■•..■■ 24;"--The Central News's FaTiS correspondent says that the "British bomVardment X>i ihe Pozieres region increased in intensity on Saturday evening, indicating that the hour oi attack was approaching, The' British troops advanced to the assault along the whole lino on Sunday morning, while tlie artillery langthened the range. The artilfery p-reparaiion was excellent, but 'sanie '^.armoredshelters were only partially' destroyed, and machine-guns were still m place when ihe attack began, especially about Pozieres village. ' The Britiish displayed remarkable. coolness,. courage, and inimitable tena-city.' They reached tho enemy's lines anci! captured several positions, but^stipepior numbers and artillery , fire 'forced them to'fair.baek'ait somei points'!, .pniy to -return when reinforced. '\' ' i:

The fighting at the village reached: its Highest at two o'clocjc in!,U. the morning. The British, seized the,advanced defences, penetrated,' the streets, and stormed ilio majority, oi the "houses.- The struggle was frighfci"ful...- The Tommies fought hand to hand and the tide of battle swayed until at six o'clock in the Evening' fhe British" reached the northern ex"tremity of the village; but the Gferinans Vetui-necl in gre.at amasses , aiict reto6k portions of tlio'lost; ground, forcing their opponents out "of sotno 'Louses. ' "' .'■ , : i ,-V

'Wliile this opie struggle Mged the Australian "battalions engaged in teirific fights on both sides of "the yillage. The British ami Australians were still fighting with the same ardor af\ teight in the evening, and had regained some ground.; ';: ' ' '.''.:' - , "Meanwliilo the battle from;-Guille-inont. to Longneval waa> mb^^stubr.; i'born; but .at,midnight s<*emed; to have | turned, in Tayor'of the British./ : > ( -