WESTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17789, 19 July 1916, Page 5

WESTERN THEATRE

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG’S REPORT. MORE POSITIONS CAPTURED. GERMAN DOCUMENTS, SUGGEST ENEMY VS DIRE STRAITS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 17. Received July 18, 8.30 p.qi. Sir Douglas Haig rep'orts:—The troops north-west of Bazentin le Petit Wood stormed and captured the German second line of positions on a front oi 1500 yards. The large number of Gorman dead In this sector bear evidence of the very heavy casualties they suffered since the advance began. East of Lonqueval we still further gained In the gap between the second lino,, capturing a strongly defended position at Waterlot farm on the left flank of Oyillers. At La Boiselle, where continuous hand-? to-liand fighting has been taking pft.ee since the .7th, we captured the remaining strongholds of the enemy, and the prisoners Included two officers and 124 guardsmen who were the remnants of Its brave garrison. The whole village is now in our hands.

The following captured - documents show the. very heavy casualties the enemy suffered; — . A' company officer of the 16th Bavarian writes that the Company’s strength was one -officer and twelve men. He asked urgently for speedy . relief, for what remained of the company were so exhausted that, if the enemy attacked, the men could not be counted on. v .

An officer of another company of Bavarians reported: The Company has completely lost its fighting value, and the men are so exhausted that .they cannot longer be employed. If the heavy artillery lire continues, the company will soon be exterminated. An officer of the second battaliop of the 16th Bavarians reported:—The battalion consists at the present time of three officers, - two non.-coms. - , and nineteen men. VNO GERMAN SUCCESSES. NOT EVEN TEMPORARY. GENERAL HAIG’S GOOD JUDGMENT. WHAT THE CRITICS POINT OUT.’ ' ■ . Ar. ■ .- ; LO'NDONfTtJfy 17.;, ' Received .1 ply 18, 8,3(J ,p:m. The withdrawal from Koreans was due to Sir Douglas Haig’s determination not to expose the troops unnecessarily until the third German line was thoroughly bombarded. To-day’s communique proves that there has not been even a temporary German success, which is merely proof that Sir Douglas Haig preferred to spend his energy in widening the gap in the second line by the capture of Waterlot Farm, between Lonqucval and Gulllemont, which represents increased pressure on the German stronghold at Guillemont. It is expected that when the third line is pierced, progress will be easier as there are fewer woods. In the direction of Bapaume the ground is less favourable to tlie construction of defence works. Experts arc of opinion that now that Bazentln le Petit and Lonqueval are taken, the German organisation in ’the Valley of the Ancre is doomed. French critics point out that even the Kaisers presence nt the Somme, with speeches, iron crosses, and advice to his generals, failed to check the AngloFrench offensive.

Experts, who expected that the high pressure attack on the first line would be successful, and are now delighted to find that the attack against the second positions had been under-rated, and against an enemy which had been heavily reinforced, were also brilliantly #tlcccssful. THE ADVANCE ON PSRONNE. FRENCH BUTICULTIES. LONDON', July IT. Received July 18, 9.50 p.m. Ju view of the activity of the British guns a speedy resumption in the advance to Pcronne is expected, but considerable difficulties are before the French, owing to the German defences being based on a marsh of the canal on the western side of Peronne. The town consists of three parts, the first the cathedral, the second the castle of Louis XL, and the third the cemetery, all of which are dominated by the villages of Dumon and Saint Quentin, which, in turn, are dominated by the heights of the Aizecourt. INCESSANT BAIN AND HEAVY MIST. GERMAN ARTILLERY LOSSES. LONDON, July IS. Received July 19, 12.50 a.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: Incessant rain and heavy mist again interfered with operations. There lias been nothing of importance all day long with the exception of local actions. More prisoners were, taken, the total since July 1 being 18!• officers and 10,779 men. German artillery losses were greater than at first reported, and include five eight-inch howitzers, three six-inch howitzers, four six-inch guns, five others of the heaviest calibre, thirty-seven held guns, thirty mortars, sixty-six machine guns, and thousands of rounds of gun ammunition of all descriptions. The above are exclusive of the many, guns that have not yet been brought in. others were abandoned or destroyed by our bombardment. FRENCH AVIATORS ACTIVE. AUSTRIAN TROOPS TRANSFERRED. . AMSTERDAM, July IS. Received July 19, 12.5 a a.m. French aviators completely destroyed a German ammunition train. Two Austrian divisions have been withdrawn from tlie Italian front and sent to West Delatyn. GERMAN WOUNDED. ROTTERDAM, July IS. Received July 19, 12.5n a.m. Tiains of German wounded arc constantly travelling from Aix le Cbapelle. Eleven thousand severely wounded soldiers passed from the Posiercs-Buzentin front. artillery duel continues. (Reuter's Telegrams.) PARRS, July IS. ~.celved July 19, 12.50 a,m. Communique: On the right bank of the Meuse the artillery duel continues in the region of Souville, but there is com partitive quietness on the rest of the. r- iint. Tin- weather aI n» ioe s.

ANZACS IN PARIS. WBiTOBH TO THE raOMT. LONDON, July 17. Received July 18, 9.50 p.m. The Anzacs who took part in the review left Paris on Sunday. Immense crowds acclaimed the British Colonial troops, and flung flowers at them. A OEBUAS REPORT. REGARDING BOTH FRONTS. . LONDON, July 17. Received July 18, 8.30 p.m. A Berlin communique dated the 17th confirms the Russian advance at the Lower Lipa. It further states: The English at many points between the Ancre increased their fire to a great violence.' Artillery activity on the Somme is very considerable on both sides. The enemy’s local attacks resulted .In the Erigllsh penetrating Ovillers Wood and there was lively fighting south of Blaches. Otherwise they failed before our «. urtain of fire. Extensive French attacks' were commenced on the 15th east of the Meuse, and were continued until this morning. The enemy did not achieve success, and in a sanguinary struggle lost ground at a few points.

There has been lively fighting with Marshal von Hlndenburg’s army south of Riga. General von Linslngen’s advance checked the enemy attack southwest of Lutsk. In order to shorten our line of defence the Germans thereupon withdrew behind Lipa without the enemy’s interference.