WESTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17784, 13 July 1916, Page 5

WESTERN THEATRE

the BRITISH ADVANCE. OVER 14,000 TABSS. FIRST LINES CAPTURED. TRONES WOOD BE-TAKEH. (.By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright; (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.). LONDON', .luly .11. Received .luly 12, 5.25 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: During ten days ami nights' continuous fighting our troops have completed the methodical capture of the whole first system of defence of the enemy’s front over fourteen thousand yards, consisting of numerous continuous lines of fire trenches, and support and reserve trenches extending from two thousand to four thousand yards in depth, and including five strongly fortified villages, numerous heavily wired and entrenched woods, and a large number of immensely strong redoubts. •The capture of each trench represented an operation of some Importance. The German success at Trones Wood, after six costly attacks, was of short duration. We captured the whole position, except the northernmost portion. SLOW ABE STEADY PROGRESS. AGAINST STRONG ENEMY POSITION THE PRESSURE MAINTAINED. I.UN DON, .July It. Keceived duly 12, 5.50 p.m. Mr Philip Gibbs, writing from France, says we are slowly and steadily drawing the line closer about the German strong places along the whole of our attacking front. It is true that .the German line from the sea to the Vosges is one of great strength, but this is more essentially and technically true regarding the portion of the line that we have penetrated. The great German salient from (lommccourt to Frecourt, resembles a chain of medieval fortresses, connected by tunnels and earthworks. The ruined villages of Gommecourt, Beaumont, Hamel, Thiepval, Ovillers, La Boiselle, and Frlcourt, are strong places,' stronger for purposes of defence than any old toWcr, because they are filled with machineguns. trench mortars, and other deadly engines. Despite the superb courage of the British battalions' flung against the left side of the salient they have not fallen. We have made breaches, which we are now deepening and widening. The attack on the south side succeeded, resulting in the capture of La Boiselle and Fricourt, and further eastwards Mamet/, and Montaubau. Now we are pushing the attach, with a view to turning the strong places upon the left, while assaults from without are weakening the resistance and gradually putting a strangle hold upon them. If we keep striking deeper into the salient, as we have done at Ovillers and Contalmaison, the Germans must evacuate the strong places upon the left, otherwise wo would surround and capture the imprisoned troops. THE ANGLO-FRENCH POSITION. CO-ORDINATION OF OPERATIONS. I.OXIIO.N’, July 12. Keceived July 12, 8.20 p.m. The Daily Telegraph’s Paris correspondent states that Blaches lies at the foot of a declivity on the edge of the Somme Canal opposite Peronne, from which it is separated by the canal and th river marshes. Hill 37 is a mile south of Blaches, with La Maisonette on the summit There is a small wood halfway up the hill between Biaches and Maisonette. The enemy strongly fortified Biaches Wood and the lull. The French, south of the Somme, hold two lines of hills from Belloy to Feuilleres on the westward, and from Barleux to Biaches on the eastward. The only German position of importance is Villers. The capture of Hill 97 has given the French complete command of the railway from Chatlines to Peroune. The most remarkable feature of the Anglo-French offensive is the perfect coordination of Hie operations. The advanced line from the Ancre river to Peronne forms a series of steps, and the enemy at cacti angle is exposed to a crossfire from two sides. QUIET SAY OB THE SOMME. VERDUN ATTACKS. PARIS, July 12. Received July 12, 10 p.m. Communique: The day was comparatively calm on the Somme. We cleared the wood north of l a Maisonnette, and occupied trendies iietwcen Kstrees and Belloy. The Germans renewed their attacks in front of Fleury station and at Vaux Wood. After several fruitless attempts, a< companled by heavy loss, the enemy attained a foothold at Da.uiluup battery.