THE GREAT ADVANCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11619, 10 July 1916, Page 5

THE GREAT ADVANCE.

GALLANTLY PUSHING ON. CAPTURES OF TRENCHES AND WOODS. RAINS HINDER OPERATIONS. United Press Association—-By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Australian—New Zealand Cable ssociation. London July 7. Sir Donglas Haig reports:—Despite the stubborn resistance of the enemy, onr infantry, well assisted by 1 artil • lery, pushed the advance with the utmost gallantry, throughout the morning, fighting and gaining several important successes. South of Thiepval, after a fierce preliminary bombardment, we carried by assault a further portion of the immensely strong work called Leipzig Redoubt. This redoubt is situated in a salient of the German line, and the enemy have exercised fill ingenuity over its fortification fluting the last twenty months. Further south, one brigade, attacking from the west, forced its way across 500 yards of the German front lino trenches into the enemy defences of Ovillers. Pierce fighting is now in progress for possession of the village. Following our successes last night oast of La Boiselle, we advanced our line over a maze of -German trenches on a front of nearly 2000 yards and a depth of SCO yards. North of Fricourfc,. lining up with this attack, we drove the enemy from two woods’and three lines of trenches. About Ida.m. the Prussian Guards wore thrown into the fight east of ilontalmaison in a desperate effort ™ force us;back, but the attack was crushed by our fire. The enemy subsequentlyfell back northwards, leaving 700 prisoners of various regiments. ‘ era* • . Tremaet . _ About noon'our infantry carried the village of;'Gontalmaison by storm, but have been since foVcdd °dt again by a strong counter-attack. The enemy’s casualties to-day were v ®ry severe. . Large numbers of troop" retiring „ f. 1 -the open were caught by our artillery fire. The village of Baz,*ntmlepit was heavily shelled at a nme when seen to be fall of German Serves, - «u officer who Twas taken prisoner •tatea that his battalion came under

strong machine-gun tire from oue of onr aeroplanes at an altitude of 0300 feet when marching to the battlefield, and shortly afterwards the same battalion was shelled heavily by long range guns,. Heavy rains have been railing heavily throughout the day. The sodden ground and the flooded state of the trenches added to the difficulties experienced by our troops.