PROGRESS AT POZIERES

Nelson Evening Mail, 29 July 1916, Page 5

PROGRESS AT POZIERES

FIGHTING IN THE VICINITY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 28. Sir Douglas Haig reports that we captured last night an important trench northward of the line Pozieres-Bazentin-Le Petit which had hitherto resisted attacks. The Germans this morning regained complete possession, but we immediately re-attacked and regained a footing in the northern end. After hard fighting, we drove the Germans out of the east and northeast (portions of Deville Wood. Heavy fighting continues here, includingLongueval, the northern part of "which is regained. A small party of Germans entered the trenches westward of the YpresPilken Toad, but were driven out. Further south, after an artillery bombardment, we raided the line and encountered the Germans in from, of the entanglements. We killed thirty and found many dead in their trenches. Our aviators are doing good work in locating .batteries and new "defences. WHAT THE CAPTURE MEANS. SITUATION DISTINCTLY IMPROVED. STRONG ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS. (Australian and'N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 28. A correspondent writes : The capture of Pozieres improves tne situation onthe Somme. It is believed that we are through the Germans' most elaboratedefences. The Germans are doubt!ess feverishly working for miles behind, but ithey have no time to create anything like what has been passed. I am well informed in saying that we are not afraid of anything they can create, but they have enormous masses •of infantry, which is now our mostserious problem. The Westminster Gazette's military correspondent says the capture of Pozieres may decisive. Pozieres and liOOgueval command the main roads converging upon Bapaumo. whilst Fonreanx Wood commands the cros.s road running between them. The capture enables our attack to gather weight and momentum in falling into the open agricultural country, requiring masses to resist it. The capture of Pozieres decides the crux of the battle : n our favour. The Daily Mail's correspondent at Amsterdam' savs that two divisions of infantry and 4000 Uhlans have left the Ghent "district, going southwards. There is a continuous stream of men and guns en route to the Somme." One hundred and fifty heavy guns and two divisions traversed Ghent by railway in two days. The Germans have suspended passenger communication between Belgium and • Holland, and most stringent restrictions are imposed upon the inhabitants of Flanders y and Norifh France. It is believed! that the majority of the Belgian garrisons have been sent to the ... firing line. < Correspondents at British headquarters detail the capture of scouting positions at Pozieres. The Territorials cooperating with the Anzacs had to worn: under great difficulty, and showed the utmost dashvand staunchness in clearing the Germans out of the west of the -village, whilst the Anzacs were attack -

ing in the south-east. The ground .is grid-ironed with enemy trenches and dotted with strongly fortified machine gun posts. In addition to the ground commanded from the trenches before Pozieres and h gh ground above Thiepval, the Territorials made, a lot of ground on the first night. Afterwards they continual;y forged ahead, rushing bits of trench. and attacking machine gun posts till they janctioned with the Anzaes at the top of the village on Tuesday evening. - The British are now well established in the line to which the second main push -begun on the 14th was directed. Evidence accumulating shows that the enemy have concentrated great quantities of guns and troops to oppose the next British move, WINDMILL AND CEMETERY CAP TURED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON.. July 23. The Australians' and Territorials' captures at Pozieres include the windmid and cemetery. The British have won 24 square miles in the Somme region since July Ist.