THE FRENCH FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3254, 26 July 1916, Page 19

THE FRENCH FRONT.

GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS REPELLED. PARIS, July 23. A communique states : There is an artillery struggle on the Somme front A German night attack southward of Soyecourt failed under our fire. The Germans are bombarding the Fleury sector (east of Verdun). Grenade fighting occurred at Chapellesteffe. ■ Our machine guns repulsed an attack against out trench e 3 at Les Eparges (Meuse heights, north of St. Mihiel). A communique records many air operations, including the bombarding of the railway stations of Vigneulles, Thionville, Amaville, Laon, St. Erme, and the bar-* racks and station at Mulheim. The squadron in returning fought a German squadron, and four German and two French aeroplanes were brought down. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS. LONDON, July 23. A German communique states : British """ infantry made attacks on the ThiepvalGuillemont front, but failed with heavy losses. Violent hand-to-hand fighting occurred near Pozieres. Another German communique states that strong reconnoitring detachments in the vicinity of Richcbourg were repulsed after increased artillery fire throughout the evening and night between the Ancre and the Somme. There were infantry attacks on the Tbiepval-Guillemofit front. The British attacks, despite heavy losses and the number of troops engaged, failed. There was violent hand-to-hand fighting near West Pozieres, Foureaux Wood, and the western edge of Longueval. The enemy's attempted attacks between Guillemont and the Somme were stifled in the trenches by our curtain fire. There were very strong artillery duels south of the Somme, followed by separate French attacks—all failed. NEW BRITISH OFFENSIVE. LONDON, July 23. The Central New.; Amsterdam correspondent says that German war correspondents are puzzled by the British attacks

on Fromelles (north-east of La Bassce) and south of Armentieres on Wednesday evening, in which two strong divisions were engaged. Some of them consider that this introduces a new offensive, while some think that it is a prelude to a serious attempt to advance towards Lille. Others, again, believe that it is a mere demonstration to prevent the Germans from sending troops to the menaced sectors at Kooge (Yprcs salient). AMSTERDAM, July 24. A German officer, interviewed by the Vossische Zeitung, said : " I do not know how great the English reserves are. The. length of the offensive will depend upon this. Our positions were badly knocked about, • but the dug-outs and shelters luckily held out very well. Finally rainy weather came to help us."