ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

North Otago Times, Volume CIII, Issue 13656, 25 August 1916, Page 3

ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

DESPERATE FIGHTING NORTH OP SOMME, ALLIES INVINCIBLE OBSTINACY. (Aiialnlinn mnl N.Z. Cable Asaonintlon.) - Received-August 24, at 11,10 p.m. - August 24 The-Pirns correspondent, of the-Daily .1 Mail says: "In three days of desperate fighting iii the northern part of Gnillemont, the enemy defended the position with the ■courage of despair. ...But our men,.attacking with invincible nhstiu- C aey, gained ground. A British patrol a made its way into'Mai-tiupuieh village, I' which is at our mercy. ' 1 ' ■ :, . ~ , 1 FIGHTING ON THE DEFENSIVE. t COLONEL REPINGTON'S- RESUME. [ " ; • „" ("the Times" Service.) \ { Received August 24, at 11.10 p.m. n • ; ~. . ' LONDON, August, 24, |, Colonel.Repington, the Times military, j expert, says: "Germany is everywhere ~ ■on the,, defensive..Forty-three divisions ( j are on the Somme. We have eertninly 1 ] inflicted 800,000 casualties in the last' '„ three' months. A Russian general had „ said that, if the Allies could hold-122 n German divisions on' the West, front, { \ •Russia was satisfied she could look after j, the rest. , We have done this." • ] SOMME PUSH PROGRESSING. s .."'■■ ■ \ ' -a , ALLIES GAINING SLOWLY!. g (Australian.and N.Z. Cable Association). r J '".'■...' ' PARIS, August 23. ',] -. A communique states;-There was a a heavy, artillery duel all last night north s and south of Maurepas, The Germans, s after an intense artillery preparation, t attacked' southward of Estrees and f •'westward of Soyeeourt. They penetrat- o ad. our .conquered* trenches .at gome points.. . ■ ■-: '. . LONDON, August' 23. Sir Douglas Haig reports: We repulsed two determined counter-attacks-southward of Thiepval with heavy German losses. The German counter-attack • in 'the -.evening southward of Thiepval •gained a footing in our new trenches, but the enemy were immediately driv- (| ?n'out. We also completely repulsed a' c second determined counter-attack at midnight. . ' • , c Tlie Germans are bombarding. High Woo'd and Bazentin-le-Petit. LONDON, August 23. A German communique says: English attacks were vainly, repeated on the Thiepval-Ppzieres line and north of Oyillers, High Wood, and Maurepas. .We ejected; the French irom.a portion of a trench they occupied on the 21st at , Estrees., IN THE FIGHTING LINE. i BAVARIANS BEAR BRUNT- OF '■ BATTLE.- l ) , (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). , ' ', v;' AMSTERDAM, August 23. , The Bavarian Socialist newspapers ( complain that the German General Staff ( is sending Bavarian regiments to the-. | posts of greatest danger, The news- ] papers point out that the Bavarian casualties on- the Somme .have been far .greater than those of other regiments. ' . , ■ . ... , i . ] SOUTHWARD OF THIEPVAL. a -r l .lsm OF 'TRENCHES TAKEN'; ■'•'' ' ■ (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Received August 24, 6;45 p.m. '•" LONDON, August 24. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: . Wfe' gained two" hundred yards of trenches southward of Thiepval, thus ■ straightening our line and improving our position. ENEMY'S GUNS SILENCED. EFFECTIVE AERIAL WORK. (Australian and N.Z, Cable Association). Received August 24, 8.40 p.m. '- , \ LONDON, August 24,. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our heavy guns are very effective. We' silenced the enemy's artillery in- three • areas. In aircraft fighting we ■ have been active, Four hostile machines were destroyed and many damaged. - • \ INITIATIVE AT VERDUN. I ' .WITH THE.FRENCH. BRILLIANT ATTACKS AT FLEURY. (Australian and N.Z, Cable Association.). Received August 24, 8.40 p.m. ' , ; . PARIS, August' 24, ~ An official, communique says: As the result of. a brilliant attack the positions between Fle'nry., and Thiaumont work, we made material progress.