TOMMIES FIGHT WITH GREAT TENACITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14053, 25 July 1916, Page 3

TOMMIES FIGHT WITH GREAT TENACITY.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July 25," 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. The- Central News Paris correspondent states that the British bombardment m Pozieres region increased m intensity on •Saturday evening, indicating that the hour of attack was approaching. The British troops advanced to the assault on the whole line on Sunday morning, while the artillery lengthened the range. * , The artillery's preparations were excellent, but some armoured shelters were only partially destroyed, and machine guns were still m place when the attack besran, especially about Pozieres village. The British displayed remarkable coolness, courage, and inimitable tenacity. They reached the enemy's, bnes and cap-' lured several positions, but superior numbers and artillery fire forced them to fall back at some points,^pnly to return when reinforced. Fighting m the village reached its highest at 2 o'clock m tlie morning. Tlie British seized, the advanced defences, penetrated the streets, and stormed a majority of the houses. The struggle was frightful. The Tommies., fought hand-to-hand. The tide of battle swayed until 6 o'clock m the evening. The British reached the northern extremity of the village, but the Germans returned m great masses and re-took portions of the lost ground, forcing their opponents out of some houses. While the epic struggle raged, the Australian battalions engaged m terrific fights on both sides of the village. The Anglo-Australians were still.fighting with the same ardour at 8 o'clock m the evening, and had regained some ground. - Meanwhile the battle'-at Guillemont and Longueval was of ■• the stubbornest character, but at midnight turned m favor of the British.