SITUATION AT POZIERES DESCRIBED

Nelson Evening Mail, 7 August 1916, Page 5

SITUATION AT POZIERES DESCRIBED

•DOMINATING POSITIONS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. Aug. 7, 12.10 p.tn.) PARIS. Aug. 7. The Petit Parisien says that the altitude of Pozieres is 20 metres below the culminating .point on the plateau, -which the Allies must hold entirely before they undertake a new- offensive. When the Allies seized Pozieres the Tommies pushed as far as the summit of the plateau, 'but could not remain there. They established themselves ISO'metres north of the village.- Since then grenade parties have daily gained ground on both sides of the Albert-OBapaume road. On Friday, after a preparatory bombardment, the -commander ordered the Australians and Territorials to capture the summit •at all costs. The operations had to be carried out, not only westward in the direction of 'Hill 160, which is the highest point, SCO metres from the village, but on the somewhat extended front. The assaulting battalions, after numerous hand-to-hand fights, attained the objective, and are now installed on the summit. Hill 160 dominates the villages, rising in tiers on the other side of the plateau. . The Germans have made no counterattacks to-day, but the intense artillery fire at night may foreshadow an attempt to regain the positions. The British secured a big bag of prisoners, who appeared' very depressed. GROUND CAPTURED CONSOLIDATED. {Reuter's Telegrams.) j LONDON, Aug. 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports that, including the capture of trenches reported to-day, our line north and wes£ of Pozieres has been pushed forward from 400 to 600 yards on a 3000 yards frontduring the last two days. The Australian, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex troops participated in the operations, and consolidated the ground won. despite a heavy shell-fire. Our artillery shejled Courcevette and Mouramont-,. and destroyed ton gun emplacements and three m/unition stores.

GERMAN COMMUNIQUE.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

• BERLIN. Aug. 5. A communique says: The battle north of the Somme reported yesterday took ■ciace on an extended front against strong English forces. Part of the fighting continued at nightfall. The English advancing at Ovillers and. Fonreaux Wood were repulsed with heavy losses after a stubborn hand-fight. New battle.- developed to-day near Pozieres. l>jtter fighting has developed in- the region of the Thiaumont work.

ATTEMPT TO DISCOUNT THE BRITISH ADVANCE.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

AMSTERDAM, Aug. 6A German communique says: Strong British forces attacked on a wide front on Friday, and. after fighting all day penetrated a sector north of Ovillers to Foureaux Wood, 'but. were driven out with heavy losses in some places after stubborn fighting.

BRITISH AIR RAID

GERM ANT POSITION'S ATTACKED

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, Aug. 5. The Admiralty announces that our naval aeroplane squadron consisting of bomb:ng and fighting machines on Wednesday successfully attacked an aerodrome at St. Denis, Westrem, and also ammunition sheds at Mieralbeke.

They dropped two tons -of bombs, considerable damage resulting. Lieutenant Baudry is missing, and itis believed that his fighting machine was shot down. The others returned undamaged.

DESTRUCTIVE RAID AT GHENT;

ZEEBRUGGE BOMBED.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

AMSTERDAM, Aug. 5. Bombs dropped by air raiders at •Ghent totally destroyed an air shed where 150 men were employed, and a ■ munition factory in the suburb of Ledderburg. Great damage was done at the railway station, which is the biggest junct : on in Belgium. An eye-witness states that foui~teen aeroplanes * bombed Zeebrugge. He counted 25 explosions and two big fires. The German wei'e -unable to reply, owing to the height of the aeroplanes. The Germans are evacuating all the ammunition -depots at Ghent and removing them to Antwerp. ARTILLEirr ACTIVITY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rjc. Aug. 7. 12.30 p.in.) LONDON, Aug. 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports all night artillery activity. We slightly progressed on High Wood. PROGRESS SOUTHt-WEST OF ESTRBES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.^ (Rec. Aug. 7. 12.30 ti.m.) ' PARIS. Aujt. 6.

A communique says: We made protrre»s in German trenches south-west of Estrees. Artillery broke the enemy's coup de main against the position on the plateau of Vauclero.