SIGNIFICANT LULL ON THE SOMME

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13694, 9 October 1916, Page 6

SIGNIFICANT LULL ON THE SOMME

SPASMODIC OPERATIONS AT VARIOUS; POINTS, ARTILLERY ACTIVITY AT VERDUN, (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) LONDON, October C. Sir .Douglas Haig.states: We discharged gas eastward of Loos and Armentieres. •We have abandoned north-east of Eaiiconrt l'Abbaye. Wc have made three successful raids at Loos and two at Arras. • (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association,) , . ' PARIS, October 6. A French communique says; Our reconnaissance penetrated a support trench, which Ave bombarded with grenades, There is great ..artillery activity at Verdun. Our. aviators are successfully active despite the weather, LEAVES PROM A GERMAN'S NOTE BOOK, SMASH-UP OF WAR MACHINE IN PROGRESS, (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) LONDON, October G. Mr Philip Gibbs, writing to The Daily Chronicle, says:— "A report by General von Einem, who was commanding the Fourth Gorman Corps against the British front (in the Somme in -July, has fallen into our hands, It gives an analysis with impartial candour of our qualities,and weaknesses, and the failures of his own organisation and leadership. General yon Einem confesses the utter failure of his war machine, acknowledges British, supremacy, and the qrer-increasing strain upon the German organisation as the effect of our artillery and the mastery of our Flying Corps. The demoralisation of the enemy command is admitted as the bitter fruit of experience. "The report further shows that Generan von Einem says that the British infantry learnt much in the autumn offensive in 1915, and shows great dash in attack, to which great confidence in overwhelming artillery contributes. The. English have shown great tenacity in defence, while the artillery registration and fire control are assisted by well-organised aerial observation. General von Einem recounts how long-range guns brought the German battle headquarters under fire, causing the officers to become panic-stricken, The German artillery is much hampered by the intensity of the British lire, which has also rendered it enormously difficult to bring up reserves. - "The report confesses the utter failure of the German counter-attacks,. which -arc without, method or weight. The numerical superiority of the Allies' airmen, and the fact that their machines are better, are disagreeably apparent They are able successfully to fire on our troops at low elevation. "The report admits that the German equipment and ammunition reserves are very faulty; the German machine guns are too heavy, and there is an insufficient supply of grenades, General von Einem does not suggest that the food supply of the army is insufficient, but says it is difficult to get food to tlio front trenches, All the other departments of the German organisation are found wanting. The war machine has been thrown out of gear by the ferocity and continuance of the British assaults."

NEW ZEALANDERS ON THE SOMME FRONT, \ GENEROUS TRIBUTE BY BRITISH COMMANDER. SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM WAR CORRESPONDENT, WELLINGTON, October 7, His Excellency the Goveror lias received a telegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies communicating the following telegram from Sir Douglas Haig:— ' 1 The New Zealand Division has fought with the greatest gallantry in the Somme battle, for twenty-three consecutive days, carrying out with complete success every task which it lias been set, and always doing even more than was asked of it,. The Division has won universal confidence and admiration, and no praise can be too high for such troops." The following special message lias been received from the New Zealand official war correspondent, under date October Ist: "This afternoon Otago and Canterbury men successfully attacked a German strong point and a new trench beyond Flers, the Auckland men and some of the Rifle Brigade holding the position on the right, and the Wellingtons on the left. "The operation was preceded by a,tremendous bombardment, in the midst of which appeared flame shells sending fire along the trench and great rings of black smoke into the air. The bombardment extended for miles along the line, and presented a wonderful spectacle. The intensity 011 the sector attacked by the New Zealanders exceeded anything/! witnessed ei\her in July or September in the Somme battles. "Following the lifting of the barrage the New Zealanders quickly gained their objectives. The Otago men in their zeal pursued the flying enemy, which carried them beyond their objective, so that they met machine-gun fire under which-tlicy returned to their objective. . • "The Wellingtons, coming up behind the Otagos, occupier! the ground the latter previously held, "Tanks took part in the operation, and.were seen well 111 advance of the positions occupied by our troops." RECOGNITION OF SERVICES OF OVERSEA TROOPS. PROPOSED CREATION OF GUARDS REGIMENTS, > ' london!. October, c. ; A newspaper correspondent suggests that. appreciation of the Overseas military services might be marked.>liy creating, a regiment of Guards in Canada, Australia, -New 'Zealand,. and South Africa. These, with the British would form the Imperial Guards. ;, v r