ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13664, 5 September 1916, Page 3

ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

GREAT PUSH MAINTAINED. SMASHING GERMAN POSITIONS. ALLIED THRUST. SUCCESS CLOSE TO COMBLES. The High Commissioner reports;— LONDON, September 4. (2.50 a.m.)A French official message says: After nn intense artillery preparation, the* French infantry, in conjmiction with the British, attacked the German positions on a front of six kilometres, northwards or! Maurepas river, We swept back the enemy and captured our objoctives. The village and forest of Glery-snr-Somnie are entirely ours. South of the forest, we captured nil the German I relinks along the road and the forest of Combles. We captured all the German positions to the borders of Combles. Great German counter-attacks on the conquered positions were raked by our batteries, [the enemy retiring in disorder, leaving many dead. Two thousand imwoumleil prisoners, 12 guns, and 50 mitrailleuses wore captured by us. Violent attacks on positions at Yaux and Chapitre were repulsed frequently on the whole front, The : enemy losses were very heavy. They succeeded in gaining a footing in a salient of our line after a bitter combat. We attacked positions east of Fleury and carried many trenches, and a powerfully organised work on part of the _ ridge from Fleury to Thinumont, taking MO prisoners, including live officers.

A German communique says: Artillery activity on the Somme is increasing i» violence. A strong French attack between Maurepas and Clery collapsed. The attacks on Thiaiunont iront wore repulsed.

CAPTURE OF OUILLEMONT.

-ANGLO-PRENCII .PRESSURE

SUCCEEDING

("Renter's Telegrams.") Received-September 4, 8.5 p.m. LONDON, September 4. General Sir Douglas Hnig reports: •Wo have captured the whole of (luilleinniit and part of Ginehy, taking several liundred prisoners. ' ■ Received September 4, 8.5 p.m. LONDON, September 4. • general Sir Douglas Haig reports: Wo are now live hundred yards east of Ciiiillcinoiit.

PARIS, September 4. There are heavy battles east of the •Vimise. The French captured some positions iu the Finny region, Tlie Germans are strongly 'attacking Vaux and Chapilro; On tins Somnie fighting continues successfully, GERMAN CLAIMS DISCREDITED. INSIGNIFICANT GAIN'S ADMITTED. ENEMY'S ENORMOUS LOSSES. LIVELY ACTIONS CONTINUE. FURTHER GROUND GAINED. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, September 3, In further particulars of the late Kouie counter-offensive the correspondents discredit the German claims of victory, ■and slate that the enemy made insignificant gains attended by enormous eiiemv losses.

A British official message reports that further ground has been gained on the Soiiime front, ("Kcutor's Telegrams.") * PARIS, September 3. The German counter-attack on Thursday night in the neighbourhood oi Delville Wood was the fiercest the enemy has yet delivered, ricked troops wore employed, and the desperate character of Hip assaults suggests that the German? attached the utmost importance to success. The trenches, in which & loving wa3 ultimately effected, were so battered that they' did not afford shelter. The attack was probably meant to signalise Marshal von Hindenburg's promotion, but if the casualties .'ire published in Germany they will assuredly produce blank dismay.' PARIS, September 3. A French communique •says: In a coup 'ile main we took prisoners in the Herman trenches at Armaneourt, _ The Germans are violently bombarding our positions at Thiaumont works and Floury. I

We bombed the railway .stations at Metz-Sahlons, where we paid two visits w\ dropped eighty-six bombs. Sixty bombs were dropped at military depot's liortlnwii'd of Motz railway stations arid others at the Maizios-les-Motz, Conllans, Sedan, Andunbroman .barracks, and the depots at Jlam, Nesle/nnd Giiiseard.

ALLIES' NEW OFFENSIVE. ADDITIONAL PARTICULABS. IMPORTANT SUCCESSES WON. (Australian and N.Z. Calile Association), Keceived September 4,30.15 p m LONDON, September A. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: Our new front runs five hundred yards east of Gnillcmont, from Gincliy to near Fallemon farm.

We also gained ground east of Mouquct farm. f pur aircraft accomplished most usetnl work, co-operating with our artillery and infantry. The enemy aeroplanes desperately attempted to intertore. Wo successfully engaged in many limits and destroyed three machines, 1 laniagiliff at least four others. We lost llii'i'i' machines.

A Paris communique savs: North of thp ,S( " 11 "" 1 after intense artillery pre('■"atiou the French infantrv, in eo„jmietioii with the British,' attacked shortly before midday the German nnsiL,0,1s - Wit" admirable'elan, which the enemy's resistance failed to check for a motiiciit, our troops swept away the oiiemy 's considerable forces, capturing every fixed objective. The villages and forest at Maurepns and Clcrv-snr-soniine are entirely in our power' We ! 'j»-c taken all the German trenrlieo nlon S the Le Forest-Coinbles road to the outskirts of ComMes.

Received September 4, 10.20 p.m. PAINS, September 4. A communique says: We captured all ' llt ' Piinny positions between Lc Forest ; "" 1 ('lcy, and numerous point* We passed beyond the road joining the two Vlll "fs. The flermans lauuelicil a flililitw-iitfaek with large effectives f-niilli of Le Forest. Onr batteries comIf 111 ;' 1 ■'"•'" to retreat in disorder. '"'Wve guns W( .re captured in a siimle ■'"'•for at Le Forest and fifty machine fcims. A series of violent German at.:icl:s nl Vmix and Chapitre were reIJ«M several times, will, heavv losses I "I* PiiPin.v succeeded at the close of the ■•Hernoon i„ penetrating a salient of ",'"' l " 10 ;. vhm fl gl'«»g continues with We attacked the German lirtsihnns east of »,„.,. ailll Wp km m™ S'-wrHl irenches, also a sim „ ff-irlc. Another attack north-west of •-'"-J enabled us to occupy a portion oi the ridge between Reury and Thiaumont work.