ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14048, 19 July 1916, Page 3

ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE.

DESPAIRING APPEALS OF ENEMY OFFICERS. BAD WEATHER DELAYS OPERATIONS. • I (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 18. Sir Douglas Haig reports :-. Our troops north-west of Bazentin le Petit Wood stormed and captured the German second line positions on a front of 1500 yards. The large number of German dead m this sector bears evidence of the very heavy casualties he has suffered since the advance began. East of Longueval we still further widened the gap between the second line, capturing a strongly-defended position at Waterloo Farm. On our left flank m Oviliers and Ya Boiselle, where there has been continuous hand-to-hand fighting since the 7th. we captured the remaining • strongholds of tlie enemy, including two officers and 124 guardsmen who were remnants of :ts brave garrison. The whole village is now m our hands. ' ' The following captured documents show the very heavy casualties the enemy has suffered. A, company officer of the^ 16th Bavarians writes : "The company's strength is one officbr and twelve men. I beg urgently spee'dy 'relief. What remains of the company is so, exhausted that if the enemy attack the men cannot be counted on." The officer of another company t.i Bavarians reported that his company had completely lost its fighting • value, and the men were so exhausted that they could no longer be employed, and if heavy artillery fire continued the company would soon be exterminated. An officer of the Second Battalion of the 16th Bavarians reported : "The battalion consists at the present time of three officers, two non-coms., and 19 men." Sir Douglas Haig reports later that inoessant rain and heavy mist have again interfered with operations, and there has been nothing of importance except day 7 long local actions and more prisoners. The total since July 1 is 189 officers and 10,779 men. The German artillery losses are greater than was first reported. We have taken five eight-inch howitzers, three six-inch howitzers, four six-inch guns, five other heavy guns. 37 field gups 30 mortars, 66 machine guns, with thousands of rounds of gun ammunition of all descriptions. The above are exclusive of many guns not yet brought m arid others abandoned and destroyed by our bombardment. Monday's and Tuesday's casual tj lists total 1034 officers and ,4361 men. . The withdrawal from Foreaux was dn,< to Sir Douglas Haig's determination * 7>t to expose troops unnecessarily ' until tht third German line has been . thofoughly bombarded. To-day's communique proves that it was not even a temporary German success, but merely a proof that Sir Douglas Haig preferred to spend his energy on the gap m the second line. : T.he capture of Waterloo. Farm, bo tween Longueval and Guillemont,- represents increased pressure on the German stronghold at Gnillemont. It is expected that when the third line is pieroed the progress of the attack will be easier. s There are. fewer woods m the direction of Bapaume, and tho ground is less favorable fpr the - construe- | tion of defence works. Experts opine that now Bazentin 1c Petit and Longuval have been taken tin German organisation m the valley of. tin Ancre is doomed. French critics point out that even, the Kaiser's presence on the Somme, with speeches, iron crosses, and advice to lm generals failed to check the Anglo French offensive. ' Experts expected Sir Douglas Haig's surprise attack on the first lines to bf successful, but are now delighted to fine' his attack on the second positions under taken against an enemy which 'was heav ily reinforced, was also brilliantly sue oessful. % .'•''.-' '-7 PARIS, .July 18. In view of the British gains-, a speedy resumption of the French adyanco <>> l'eronne..is expected, but corsiderabk difficulties -are before the French owinp to the German defences, which are baser' on the marsh, canal, and river.;' Tlv western side of Perohne consists if three parts. The first is the cathedral, the second the castle dating back tc Louis XL, and the third the cemetery r.il dominated by the village of Mont St. Quentin. which m turn is dominated by the heights of Aizecourt.