OPEN FIGHTING DEVELOPS ON THE BRITISH FRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16338, 19 September 1916, Page 7

OPEN FIGHTING DEVELOPS ON THE BRITISH FRONT.

GERMANS SEVERELY DEFEATED BY SMALLER FORCE. COMMUNICATIONS CONTINUALLY ATTACKED BY AVIATORS. MOUQUET FARM CAPTURED AFTER WEEKS OF FIGHTING. Reuter. 'Received 7.40 p.m.) LONDON. September 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Several heavy enemy counter-attacks south of the River Ancre were all repulsed. " An enemy force advancing from Lesbceufs to the north of Flers was caught, by our artillery barrage, and sustained very heavy losses. An enemy brigade advancing between Flers and Martinpuich to attack in the direction of High Wood met two of our battalions in the open. Hand-to-hand fighting ensued, in which we were completely successful, and the enemy was dispersed after suffering heavy losses. '• We improved our position north of Mouquet Farm, •'Our artillery has been active. It caused another conflagration on an enemy ammunition dump at Grand Court. "Our aviators continued their successful attack on the enemy's communications. " During the day we took 250 prisoners." Eii-b Commissioner's Cable. LONDON. September 17. An earlier communique stated: "Last evening we extended our gains on a front of 1000 yds in the vicinity of Courcelette, and also near Thiepval, capturing hostile fortifications called the Danube trench. The enemy abandoned considerable quantities of rifles and equipment. " We also captured the strongly-defended Mouquet Farm, possession of which has been hotly contested for some weeks."