CAPTURE OF GERMANS' SECOND LINE OF TRENCHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16283, 17 July 1916, Page 5

CAPTURE OF GERMANS' SECOND LINE OF TRENCHES.

BRITISH TAKE TWO VILLAGES AND TRONES WOOD.

FIERCE COUNTER-ASSAULTS COMPLETELY CRUSHED.

GALLANT STAND BY PARTY OF ROYAL WEST KENTS.

High Commissioner's Cable. (Received 5 p.m.) LONDON". July 11. An official communique says : " It is now possible to give further details of the latest phase of the offensive on the British front. The action began at daybreak this morning. Having driven back the enemy step by step to his second system of defence on Tuesday, the next two days were mainly spent, in the bombardment of these formidable positions, and preparations were made for a further advance. " This morning, after intense bombardment- we launched an assault at twenty-five minutes past three. The enemy was driven from his trenches on the whole front attacked, and we took many prisoners. Fierce fighting continued all day. and we steadily increased our gams. We are now in possession of the enemy's second positions from Bazentin-le-Petit village to Longueval village, both inclusive, and also the whole of Trones Wood. "At Trones Wood we relieved a party of the Royal West Kents who were separated from the main body in the recent fighting, and w er e surrounded by Germans. They had gallantly held out in the northern end of the wood for 48 hours. " Though determined counter-attacks were made on our new Positions, they were completely crushed by our fire. Later in the day, after a fierce counter-attack, the Germans recaptured Bazentin- . * taPetit, but were immediately driven out by our infantry, and the - ,- whole village is once more ours." Wo-'*'- ■ - ~ v-