LATEST WAR NEWS.

Mt Benger Mail, 20 September 1916, Page 3

LATEST WAR NEWS.

BIG COMBINED MOVE. COMBLES ALMOST SURROUNDED. London. September 1(5. The British official report states : In to-day's severe fighting we captured practically all the high ground between Combles and the Poziercs-Bapume road, Bouleaux Wood. Flers. High Wood, Martinpuich, and Courcelette. Over 2300 prisoners were taken, including 05 officers.

The total hostile aeroplanes destroyed were 13, and many were driven down in a damaged condition. The French official report states : A system of German trenches to a depth of 500 metres was captured north of l.e Priez Farm. This advance, in conjunction with the British operations, materially aids in the encircling of Combles. Our positions east of the Beth'une road and north of Bouehavesnes have been extended. A strongly held enemy trench iu a small wood east of Denieourt was captured ; also three trenches north-east of Beruy, where 200 were made prisoners.

Our aeroplanes successfully bombed the railway stations and barracks behind the German lines. London. September 16. A British official report states : South of the Ancre front there is no material change. Four German field guns were captured, and a further 250 prisoners brought in. Two counter-attacks were repulsed. We hold the line gained yesterday. It runs 500 yds north of High Wood, and includes the whole of the villages of Courcelette. Martinpuirh. and Flers, each twice the size of Guillcmont. A French official report, states : North of the Sotume we consolidated our new positions and repulsed a German attack east of Clery. Four hundred unwounded prisoners were taken in the course of the actions taken yesterday, and 80 German corpses were counted in a single trench.

MANY COUNTER ATTACKS REPULSED. ALLIES' POSITIONS IMPROVED, The High Commissioner reports, London, September 18, (2 p.m.) : On Sunday a squadron of naval aeroplanes attacked enouiy aerodrome at St. Dcnieeourt. Many bombs were dropped with successful results. One machine was forced to land in Holland and the pilot was interned. British official: The general situation is unchanged. Oar position at Martinpuich and Couxcelotte is improved. At

Monquot Farm the enemy entered onr trenches but we immediately counterattacked and they were outdriven South of Thiepval a further portion of enemy trenches was captured, French official: There were many German counter-attache lait sight at Bcrney and Booth Denicoort. All were repulsed with heavy enemy losses. At East Bcrney and East Denccourt we progressed. Deniecourt is completely encircled. 1200 prisoners were taken and two German battalions destroyed.