WESTERN THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 17830, 6 September 1916, Page 5

WESTERN THEATRE

TSE BATTLE RAGES PROGRESS BEYOND LE FOREST COXTNTEB-ATTACKS SHATTERED. (By Telegraph—Press' Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, September 5. Received September 5, 11.SO p.m. Communique: The battle In which the Pranco-Britlsh are engaged on both sides of the Somme continued all day with extreme fury. We made substantial progress eastward of Le Forest, passed the hospital farm, and occupied the bill -westward of Marrieres wood. Violent counter-attacks on our new positions southward of Gambles were shattered by our machine-gun* and curtain fire with very heavy enemy losses. All the conquered ground has been retained. orimrsiyE Eznon>sE FRENCH ATTACK PROM SOYECOURT TO CHAULNES STRONG POSITIONS CAPTURED PARIS, September 5. Received September S, 11.50 p.m. Communique: The French troops attacked the enemy organisations on a twenty kilometre front between Barlenx, ecathward of Chaulnes, on the Barleux-Denieconrt front. We captured the first line of trenches, and occupied the approaches to Berny and the outskirts northward of Dealecouxt. A brilliant assault northward and south-eastward of Soyeoonrt, enabled ns to capture it in Its entirety. Further south, between Vezmandovlliers and Chilly, after a violent struggle our Infantry carried four kilometres of the first position of the former German front, comprising several strongly organised lines of defence. The whole village of Chilly was captured. We occupied Hill 86 to the eastward, also the western outskirts of Chaulnes Wood. We hold portion of Vexmaudovlllers and surround It on the north and south. The first Anglo-French offensive hail the effect of bending in the German line from Thicpval in the north to SoyccOurt in the south. The apex of the wedge thus driven into the German position was at Blaches, just across .the Somme canal from PtTonnc. Subsequent operations have been confined chiefly to French attacks between Combles and Pcronno, and to British attacks further north between Combles and Thicpval. Soyecourt is eight miles south-west of Peronne, and Chaulnes is three miles due south from Soyecourt. It is along this latter stretch, which is a little more than five miles from the Somme, that the French have made a new effort, apparently will) conspicuous success. The object of the extension of the offensive is probably to keep tlie Germans so busily occupied that, they cannot send aid to the Austrians on the Russian and Roumanian fronts, or to the (3erm:in-Bulgnr force which will shortly come to grips with the Russians in tiie Dobrudju, where (as the German press have good grounds for thinking) the fate of the Balkan campaign may he decided. AT VERDUN. FRENOH PRESS FORWARD. PARIS, September 3. Received September 3, I 1.30 p.m. We added another hundred yards to Sunday's gain eastward of Fleury. The enemy made a powerful attack on tiie positions at Chemds Wood, and carried a small fort on the Van* road and some trenches to the westward. A brilliant cminter-al tack enabled us to reoccupy the whole of the ground. We look upwards of 300 iinwounded prisoners in the Fleury district on Sunday and Monday. FURTHER FRENCH GAINS. 3000 PRISONERS IN TWO BAYS. PARIS. September 3. Received September 3. £.3 p.ui. Communique; We have made further important gains. We took 11300 prisoners on Sunday and Monday northward of the Somme, and on Monday upward of .300 in the Floury district. COUNTER-ATTACK REPULSED. FURTHER GROUND GAINED. LON BOX, September 3. Received September 3. 7.30 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports: An enemy counter-attack north-westward of Mou(|iiet Farm was easily repulsed. We gained further ground northward of Falleman Farm. Heavy fighting in this section continues. ANZACS AT BOUQUET FARM. IKKESITIDLE DASH. LONDON, September 5. Received September 5, 7.30 p.m. The Morning Post’s Headquarters says that the first battalion of the Prussian Gnard defended Mouquet Farm in Sunday’s battle. The Anzaos showed irresistible dash, and despite on infernal fire surrounded the farm and fully ’ attained their objective.

VICTORY OVER PRUSSIAN GUARDS LONDON, September 5. Received September 5, 7.30 p.m. Mr Philip Gibbs confirms the work of the Australians at Mouquet Farm. They defeated the Germans’ best troops, the first Prussian Guards THE ANZAC ADVANCE THROUGH A STORM OP SHELL LONDON, September 5. Received September 5, 8.5 p.m. The Morning Poet's correspondent at headquarters states all the prisoners, wounded and nnwonnded, belonging to the First Prussian Guards taken In Sunday's battle, were captured by the Anzacs. Prior to the Anzac advance the British artillery directed a fire on the enemy positions. The Germans responded with great vigour. The Anzacs leapt over their parapets at dawn, faced not only by shell fire, but by a cross fire from machine-guns. Yet with irresistible dash they gained the enemy’s lines. Although, as a wounded said, "Infernal machine-guns seemed to be oil round ns," nevertheless by Turing bombs, machlne-gnns, and ride Are, they killed large numbers of Boches. The Anzacs were soon in and beyond Mouquet Farm, which was merely a Jumbled heap of rubble and charred wood. The Anzacs were now all round the farm, and many Prussians fled rather than face a stand-up fight at close quarters. GERMAN BEPCRT. LONDON, September 1. Received September 5, 8.15 p.m. German communique: Thirteen of the enemy’s machines were brought down In aerial fighting on the Somme on the 2nd and 3rd. Boelcke disabled his twentieth machine.