WESTERN CAMPAIGN

Nelson Evening Mail, 20 July 1916, Page 5

WESTERN CAMPAIGN

FIERCE GERMAN ATTACK AT BELVILLE WOOD. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. Julv 20, 11.15 a.m.) * LONDON. July 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports that a German attack in the night was directed on new positions east of Dazentin village. Very large German reinforcements were collected for this attack. After intense artillery the first assault was delivered in dense masses at 5.50 in the afternoon. Fighting continued the night long, and was particularly violent in Belville Wood. After suffering the heaviest losses the enemy succeeded in recapturing a portion of the Wood and obtained a footing in the northern outskirts of 'Longueval. The struggle continues. Violent German attacks elsewhere, including three separate attacks on Waterloo Farm, -were completely broken down by our fire. There was no event of importance on the rest of the front. OPERATIONS NEAR LONGUEVAL STRONG- GERMAN ATTACK. THE OVTLLERS ADVANCE. {Reuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, July 19. Sir Douglas Haig Teports that the Germans, after a bombardment with lachiyinatory gas shells, began an attack in the vicinity of Longueval -nd Belville Wood. Heavy fighting is in progress. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent describes the grand fight for Ovillera. After a furious bombardment a brigade advanced on three sides, and the defenders, -with conspicuous valour, engaged in a desperate hand-to-hand struggle among the broken walls and cellars. Many had not tasted food for two days. Everywhere corpses were lying rurburried. The -bombardment wrecked two strong field -works ban-ing the entry to the village by the Bapaume road. Our troops found here a frightful barricade consisting of 800 German corpses. Out of an entire -brigade of the Imperial Guard only 126 survived. Many were suffering agonies of hunger and thirst. Some died of poisoning after drinking irom. a filthy pond, and others went mad, fighting each other. Out men- formed xtp and presented arms to the sorry Temnant of >Prussia's proudest troops marching to the. rear. THE GROUND RECOVERED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. 1 (Rec. July 20, 2.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 19. Sir Douglas Haig reports that most of the ground at Longueval and Delvjlle has been recovered. HOW BIACHES FORTWASCAPTURED SUCCESSFUL FRENCH RUSE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. Julv 20, 11.20 a.m.) PARIS. July 19. A lucky French* ruse captured Biaches Fort on the 9th. The fort was so well concealed and protected that. the bombardment failed to destroy the works. A German company; held out for 24 hours, and then a sub-lieutenant and eight men found a vulnerable spot and entered the Fort unseen. The officer and a man rushed forward, throwing grenades and shouting. "Charge with the bayonets !" Some 123 Germans came out of the shelter without resisting, and six other Frenchmen- sprang forward with great fury and utterly deceived the enemy, who flung down their arms. Thus Biaches Fort was captured without the loss of a Frenchman. GERMANYsZoST GAME SITUATION MORE FULLY REALISED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association ) AMSTERDAM. July 18. A Cologne correspondent says thai on all sides it is becoming apparent th-.f not a single German aim will be a«hicv ed. The military operations on- the West front are severely criticised, particularly the death march towards Verdun. The Crown Prince is open!.- nrcused of the useless accumulation of troops impeding a- victorious offensive on another front. Officers taken prisoner on the West front admit that the Germans above all fear the English and Ftench offensive on fresh points at the front for whi'-h there are insufficient reserves. They saythat every man in Kitchener's armies seems to be a sharpshooter with ecjnal to the best trained soldiers. Trones Wood is a vast German gravryard. More have been sa'-niiced there than at any j>oint of retreat.. KAISER NEAR OVILLERS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON Julv 13. The Petit Journal the Kak.er witnessed ths British Tartu re- of 0"i!lcr ; . in which, the Guards battalion contend every yard, compelling the British to beseige the ruins of every house. CALM. NIGHT ON ADL FRONTS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. Julv 20. 11.20 a.m.) 'PAR-IS, July 19A communique states that the night was calm on all fronts.

CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE KING AND THE CZAR. (Reuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, July 13The King telegraphed to Sir Douglas Haig express ng great- admiration of tho continued successful advance of the troops, and conveying the Czar's congratulations. Sir Douglas Haig replied convoying the Army's thanks for their Majesties' gracious apprcc.ation. HALF A -MILLION SHELLS A DAY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 13. The Morning Post's correspondent on ■the West front says it is roughly calculated that since June 22nd we have rained half a million shells on the eneniv daily. BIACHES RECAPTURED. (Australian and Ty.-Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, July 19. A communique states that we drove out the Germans who for some hours held Biaches. All is quiet elsewhere. THE BELGIAN FRONT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, July 19. A Belgian communique says a detachment raided trenches north 6f Dixmude, killing the majority of the occupants, and captured unwounded prisoners. GERMAN COM.MUNI QUE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. Julv 20. 11.50 a.m.) AMSTERDAM. July 19. A Berlin communique says we recaptured the village of Longueval and -Delviile Wood at niyht after fierce fighting by the Magdeburg Twenty-Sixth" Infantry Regiment. In addition to sanguinary losses, the English lom eight officers and 280 men taken prisoner. They left a considerable number of machine guns. Our curtain fire dispersed enemyattacks north of Ovillers. On the southern border of Pozieres the British did not have the slightest chance --fnywhere. French local attacks north of Barleux, near Belloy. failed. The enemy continued fruitless efforts against German lines at Terre Froide, on the right bank of the Meuse.