GAINING GROUND

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 763, 21 July 1916, Page 7

GAINING GROUND

BRITISH AGAIN ATTACK HGHTING AT BELVILLE WOOD GHASTLY CRIME WAVE IN GERMANY

COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE DARDANELLES AND MESOPOTAMIA CAMPAIGNS. i RECRUDESCENCE OF SUBMARINE WARFARE | Sir Douglas Haig reports that the British have regained a portion of the ground lost at Longueval and Belville Wood. There have been important operations both north and south of the Somme, in which the Allies have achieved success. A crime wave of unprecedented dimensions is sweeping over Germany. Murders and suicides are of daily occurrence. The submarine weapon is being used in the old ruthless fashion. Commissions are being appointed to enquire into the Mesopotamia and Dardanelles campaigns. FIGHTING ON THE SOMME. ALLIES ACHIEVE SEVERAL MARKED ADVANTAGES. ENEMY FIRST LINE TRENCHES TAKEN. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, July 20 (3.10 p.m.). On both sides of the Somme the French infantry this morning attacked German positions, realising marked advantages. Northwards of the Somme we took enemy trenches from Mamelon I)e Hardeeourt to the river, carrying the French line eastwards of Hardeeourt along the Combles-Clery railway. In that part of the battlefield we took nearly 400 prisoners. South of the Somme, between Barleux and Soyeeonrt, all the enemy first line trendies were taken. In the Champagne the Frond) penetrated a trench north-east of Auberive, bringing back prisoners. In the Argonnc the Hermans attempted a eoup-de-main on our small posts at the Boland salient. After lively grenade fighting the enemy were repulsed. Left of the Meuse the bombardment of Avoeonrt and Cliattaneourt continues. There has been grenade fighting on the north-east slopes of Hill 304. On the right bank we progressed westwards of Thiaumont work. Southwards of Floury a strongly fortified enemy work was taken by us, and 1.10 prisoners were captured. GERMAN TRENCHES PENETRATED. BOMBARDMENT AND GRENADE STRUGGLES. SUCCESS ATTENDS FRENCH OPERATIONS. J{,u Cahlc.-—Press .Association. — Copyright. Australian and S'./. Guide Association. (Received duly 21, 0.10 a.m.) PARIS, July 20. A communique states: — Wc captured trendies from Hardeeourt Knoll to the river, and carried the line east of Hardeeourt an appreciable distance along a narrow gauge railway from Combles to Clery. The infantry south of the Somme captured the whole of the enemy ’s first line. We penetrated the Herman trench north-east of Anberives and brought back prisoners. The Hermans continually bombarded Avoeonrt and Cliattaneourt. A grenade stniggle is progressing on the north-eastern slopes of Hill 304. We made some progress to the right and west of Thiaumont Wood. We assaulted and captured a fortified work, which was strongly held, to the south of FJeury. THE TOLL OF WAR. STAGGERING GERMAN LOSSES AT MONTAUBAN, FIGURES FROM AN OFFICER'S DIARY Australian anil \./. Guide Association. (Received duly 21, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. The diary of a Herman commanding officer shows that on July 1 the Cth Bavarian Regiments, lighting at Montauhan. lost 3000 men out of 3000. A battalion of the 190 th Regiment lost 9SO men out of 1200. Two other battalions of the 190 th lost over half their effective strengtlu