GROUND GAINED BY BRITISH NORTH OF BAZENTIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16300, 5 August 1916, Page 7

GROUND GAINED BY BRITISH NORTH OF BAZENTIN.

GERMAN ATTACK ON DELVILLE WOOD EEPUISED.

GARRISON FORCED TO RETREAT NEAR POZIERES.

ENEMY SHELLING VILLAGES FURTHER TO THE NORTH. High Commissioner's Cable. (Eeccit*d 11 p.m.> LONDON. Ancnat 4.

A British official report states"North of Bazentin-le-Petit we gained ground by bombing.

"During the night the enemy sent four strong detachments towards Delville Wood. We allowed them to approach within close range before opening fire- All were repulsed with heavy loss. In one place 50 of the enemy were caught in mass formation by our machine-gun fire.

"Our heavy artillery bombarded a strong enemy point between Pozieres and Thiepval, and forced back the garrison, who fled across the open and were caught in our field of gun fire. "On Tuesday we caused a big explosion at Courcelette. Throughout the day the enemy's artillery maintained a barrage west and south-west of Pozieres, and shelled Longueval, Mametz, and Caterpillar Woods.

"Further north they shelled the villages near Arras and Axmenfceres, and dropped bombs on the outskirts of the villages without doing damage.

"In the Givenchy district we bombarded the enemy's line at Eohenzollern.

"At the Loos salient there was considerable trench mortar activity on both sides. Two enemy aeroplanes were brought down in the northern section of our line, of which one seems a new pattern. Three of our machines were brought down by the enemy's gunfire."