GENERAL WAR NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17793, 24 July 1916, Page 3

GENERAL WAR NEWS

EARLIER CABLES SEVERE FIGHTING CONTINUES. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 21. General Haig reports that the British advance north of the Baze.ntin-Longueval line pushed on to Boisdcs Forcaux, whence it drove the enemy. During the night the enemy counter-attacked after an intense bombardment of gas shells, and succeeded In effecting an entry north of the wood, but failed to dislodge our troops. The. southern half elsewhere is unchanged. BRITISH ADVANCE. The High Commissioner cabled lx»ndon, July 21 :—General Haig reports that between Leipzig redoubt and tJelvillc Wood the battle continues without Intermission. Northwards of the Bazent.in-Longueval line (tie British advance has been pushed forward to Forcaux Wood, out of which the enemy were driven. During the night the enemy counterattacked, after an intense bombardment with gas shells, and succeeded in effecting an entry in the north part of the wood, but failed to dislodge us from tho southern half. .Elsewhere the situation is unchanged. GREAT GERMAN COHCBHTBATXON. LONDON, July 21. The Daily Mail's correspondent in France writes ; "The German attack on Longucval was shrewdly conceived, and, had it proved successful, would have endangered the front where the French and British meet. ‘The enemy pretend that only one German brigade was engaged, but French experts estimate that there were six divisions on a two' and a-half mile front. Despite these tremendous odds and the exceptional German fury, the British magnificently withstood the attack." DESPERATE LYING ABOUT JUTLAND BATTLE. NEW YORK, July 21. The German campaign of lies reached Its height when it was announced to-day that Berlin sent out an official wireless message on June 3 stating that a groat revolt had occurred before the British Admiralty Buildings, owing to the Jutland battle, and that the theatres were closed. HIGH COacmtSSIONEB’S REPORT. The High Commissioner reports under date London, 21st July (3.15 p.m.) : The French official report says : Southwards of the Somme the enemy yesterday counter-attacked our new positions south of Boyecourt. An assaulting battalion was caught under our curtain fire (Hid mitrailleuses, and retired In disorder, suffering very heavy losses. The night was calm on both sides of the Somme. In the region of Chaulnes a strong enemy detachment which attempted to reach our lines south of Macourt was repulsed with the bayonet. Between Soissons and Rheims our reconnaissances after a favourable mine explosion penetrated an adversary trench,' which was then swept clear with grenades. On tho Verdun front there is great artillery activity In the sectors of Chattaneourt and Floury. In the Vosges, following violent bombardment, the enemy attempted to attack our positions northwards of Weissenbach. but were successfully checked. During yesterday and last night our aerial squadrons bombed several important points on the enemy front, including the stations of Conflans. Orsalatour, Longuyon, Brieulles Junction, and Haro, where numerous heavy projectiles were dropped. On the 17th, 18th, and 19th the open towns Baccarat and Lunevllle were bombarded by the enemy squadrons, but the damage done was immaterial. Reprisals will be taken. XBROZC LONDONERS. CAUGHT IN DEATH-TRAP BT GERMAN “ BABRAGE ” PXRE. LONDON, July 21. Mr Philip Gibbs writes ; In our offensive the Territorials proved great soldiers, both In attack and resistance. The Queen's Westminsters, the Queen Victoria's Kifles, the London Pdfle Brigade, the Bangers, and the London Scottish, advancing at Gommeoourt, reached the German lines and captured a network of trendies with amazing speed. The enemy put in a "barrage" lire of high explosives, through which no living thing could pass. The Londoners were caught in a death-trap, their escape being cut off. The "barrage" fire smashed our communication trenches, preventing any supports from reaching the men in the captured salient. Their comrades desperately attempted to send them ammunition. One party of 60, with handgrenades, set out, but only three returned. The enemy organised a series of coun-ter-attacks, and some enemy parties approached tile Londoners from a northern position, whence the enemy enfiladed them. The London Scottish, on the right, were holding a redoubt and building barricades, but ammunition grew scarce, and their supply of bombs was almost exhausted. The Londoners, however, gathered some German bombs, but their position became uglier. The men never lost, heart, and an officer rallied six good men and ordered the others to rotreat with the wounded and take their chance across "No Alan’s Land," while he put up a last fight. He stuck to the barricade until all but two were killed. He was the last to leave. Gradually the Londoners withdrew under a great shell fire. Many wounded remained on the field, suffering great anguish for days. One officer, wounded In the leg. crawled abofit the field for 12 days before being rescued. AVIATOR’S ADVENTURES. COPENHAGEN, July 21. The Cracow newspapers state that a French aviator landed at Kawcnoza from Nancy, a distance of 1250 mites. He descended in a fog, believing he was behind the Russian lines. When tic discovered his mistake he failed to restart his engine, and was captured. BALTIC SHIPPING. COPENHAGEN. July 21. The Germans relearned the Ada,m, which will now continue her voyage southwards in Swedish waters. Thre.c other English steamers have left Finland for England, similarly using the territorial waters with a view of escaping from the Baltic. WELSH COAL. ' The Timeß.) LONDON. July 21 The Admiralty hns Informed the South Wales miners that the coal output of the Fnited Kingdom has fallen by 35,000,000 tons since the war, whereas national and allied demands access Bated 30,000,000 tons more than flic output before the war. NORWAY NAUSEATES GERMANY. LONDON, July I, Norway's attitude regarding the British blockade disgusts the Cologne Gazette, which says ; “Tf it were not so Immensely sari we might laugh a.t the idea that the Norwegians, after all the British sea. tyrants - excesses, are still regarding England as the champion of the independence of srna.ll nations. This proves that Germany, when fighting for the Freedom of the Sens, cannot reckon upon the northern nations, although they are our blood relations." The cable news is this issue accredited to The Times has appeared in that journal, hut only where expressly stated is such news the editorial opinion of The Times.

IN MESOPOTAMIA. The High Commissioner reports under date London. July 21 (5.30 p.m.) ; In Mesopotamia it is reported that the longexpected shimat is now blowing, and has caused a considerable fall in the tempera lure. AEROPLANE ACCIDENT. LONDON. July 21. There was a strange aeroplane accident in the Southampton water to a large vessel outward bound. Three seaplanes manoeuvred overhead, flying low. when one suddenly swerved and crashed into the main mast of the vessel, breaking down the steamer’s wireless rigging. The seaplane fell on deck, the pilot and a seaman being seriously injured. DIED 70S THE EXPIRE. LONDON, July 31. Peter, a son of John Mcßride, who was executed for his share )n the Plnn Fein revolt, a private in the Yorkshire and Lancashires, was killed in France. THE FRENCH REPORT. PARIS, July 21. A communique states that the enemy late on Wednesday counter-attacked south of Soyec.ourt. The battalion which led the assault was caught In our curtain fire from mitrailleuses, and fell back in disorder with very heavy losses. The night was calm on both sides of the Somme. We re.pnlsed with tho bayonet a strong party Of enemy raiders in the Chaulnes region. Our air squadrons bombarded the stations at Conflans, Mars la Tour, Brieiilles, and Ham Junction with large projectiles. The fact that the Germans bombarded the open towns of Baccarat and Luncvillc have been noted for reprisals. , FAMOUS CHIMES REQUISITIONED, NEW YORK, July 20. The Austrian Government have, requisitioned the famous Salzburg chimes, and are recasting them for munitions. CLOTHING CARDS. NEW YORK, July 20. An American correspondent in Germany states that Germany is issuing clothing cards in order to secure an equal distribution. After the Ist of August it will require a Government card for all clothing costing loss than £4. THE TORPEDOED TKBR. (United Service.) NEW YORK, July 20. A message from Portland (Maine) states that there were three Americana aboard the torpedoed British steamer Yeer.