WESTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17792, 22 July 1916, Page 5

WESTERN THEATRE

TEX FRENCH ADVANCE. GAINS TOUTS OF TBS SOMME. PROGRESS AT TBMJOT. AIRCRAFT ACTIVE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Reuter’s Telegrams.) PARIS, July 21. Received July 21, 9.25 p.m. Communique: North of the Somme we are consolidating the positions won in the morning soutli of the Somme. To extend our front we attacked in the afternoon and captured the whole of the first German position from Bstrees to Vermandovillers Hill. During tho fighting to-day we captured 2900 prisoners, 3 guns, 30 machine-guns, and much material. We continued our progress west of Thiaumont work. Our air squadrons bombed stations at Thiouville, Montmedery, Brieulles, and Rolsel, and military establishments at Lonach and north-east of Bale. pubuo dzsuoxted. AT FOCSTB FIVE-MXLE ADVANCE. OOKBUB THREATENED. A COMPARISON WITH VEND UN. THE ALLIES ADVANTAGE. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 81. Received July 31, 10.10 pan. The British and French public are delighted at the news of General Fooh's capture of five miles of the Somme front. ' The British advance having brought their line approximately level with the French, General Foch recommenced his offensive at daybreak with most gratifying success. He has broken the German Une and captured five miles of trenches on both banks of the Somme, threatening Oombles and also relieving the pressure on the British angle at Eonqueval and Delvllle Wood, where they are ■mnvi-ngr a grand fight, though outnumbered by four to oue. The positions which the AngloFrench have seized on the Somme are at least as difficult and twice as extensive as the positions the Germans seized at Verdun. The Anglo-French accomplished in sixteen days what the Germans accomplished in five months, with fivefold the expenditure of lives. The Germans fully realise how dangerous the Anglo-French advance upon the confines of the plains of Gambles is, but are endeavouring to confine the fighting to the Somme sectors, as there is even greater danger In the likelihood of further breaches in the German line, which would he rolled up in sections. The Allies’ great advantage lies in the fact that the Germans are tied up to their positions, and are forced to rely on heavy guns, which are excellent for an offensive, but are difficult to utilise for defence where mobility is all-important. Newspapers give prominence to the excellent results of the Australian raids, which were made on a more extensive front than any Sir Douglas Haig has yet reported. GERMAN REPORT. AMSTERDAM, July 21. Received July 21, 10.10 p.m. German communique: The British attacked la considerable force our positions west and north of Fromelles. Counterattacks threw them back from the points penetrated. The British again penetrated l.onqueval and Delville farm, but counter-attacks compelled them to retire, though they still hold portions of the village and the farm. Anglo- French attacks on the whole front to the Somme began this morning. The first attack was broken. The French in the afternoon made two unfruitful attacks in the region of Belloy, both being repulsed. BRITISH OPERATIONS. STUiL ADVANCING, AGAINST STUBBORN RESISTANCE. SUCCESSFUL AEROPLANE RAIDS. (Reuter's Telegrams.) LONDON, July 21. Received July 21, 9.25 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig's communique: North of the Bazentin-Donqueval line, we advanced about a, thousand yards despite stubborn opposition. Heavy fighting continues in the northern outskirts of Eonquevai Village and at Delville Wood. The remainder of the main battle front is unchanged. Our aeroplanes yesterday dropped many tons of explosives most successfully on railway centres, aerodromes, and other important points.