FURIOUS FIGHTING

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 764, 22 July 1916, Page 9

FURIOUS FIGHTING

STRONG GERMAN ATTACKS GALLANTRY OF LONDON REGIMENTS ATTACK AND COUNTER-ATTACK IN FOUREAUX WOOD

GERMAN CAMPAIGN OF LIES FRENCH SUCCESS IN BATTLE OF THE SOMME The British advance pushed forward to Foureaux Wood, and after fierce fighting held the southern half. The heroic conduct of the London Territorial Regiments is eloquently described by Mr Philip Gibbs. The French operating in the Somme region are meeting with success, and General Foch is advancing once more. A fierce attack by Germans at Longueval was gallantlyresisted by the British. There are reports of a naval action in the Baltic.

FIGHT IN FOUREAUX WOOD. BRITISH ADVANCE PUSHED FORWARD. ENEMY COUNTER-ATTACK PARTIALLY SUCCEEDS. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, July 21 (3.15 p.m.). General Haig reports;— Between Leipsie Redoubt and Belvillc Wood the battle continues without intermission. Northwards of the Bazentin-Longueval line the British advance has been pushed forward to Foureaux Wood, from whence the enemy was driven. During the night the enemy counter-attacked, 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, the southern half. Elsewhere the situation is unchanged.

BAYONETS, GRENADES, AND MINES. AETILLEEY ACTIVE AT VERDUN. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. The High Commissioner reports;— LONDON, July 21 (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 and mitrailleuses, and retired in disorder, suffering very heavy losses. The night was calm on both sides of the Somme. In the region of Chaulmes a strong enemy detachment which attempted to reach our lines south of Macourt was repulsed with the bayonet. Between Soissons and liheims our reconnaissances, after a favourable mine explosion, penetrated an adversary trench, which was then swept clear with grenades. On the Verdun front there is great artillery activity in the sectors of Chattaueourt and Fleury. In the Vosges, following a violent bombardment, the enemy attempted to attack our positions northwards of Weissenbach, but were successfully checked.

During yesterday and last niglil our aerial squadrons bombed severaJ import ant points on the enemy front, including stations at Conflans, Orslatour, Louguyon, Brieulles Junction, and Ham, where numerous heavy projectiles were dropped. On the 17th, 18th, and 19th the open towns of Baccarat and Luneville were bombarded by the enemy's squadrons, but the damage done was immaterial. Reprisals will be taken.

FRIEND OF SMALL NATIONS. THE “COLOGNE GAZETTE” DISGUSTED. GERMANY TURNED DOWN BY BLOOD RELATIONS. Jill Cubic, — Press Association.- -Copyrif/hl. ‘ ' Tin Thin x' ‘ Si i-flrc. (Received duly 22. !).20 a.in.) LONDON, July 21. Norway's attitude regarding tin* blockade disgusts the “Cologne Gazette," whieh says:—‘‘.lf it were not so immensely sad, we might laugh at the idea that the Norwegians, after all the British sea tyrants’ excesses, are still regarding England as the champion of the independence of small nations. This proves that Germany, when lighting for the freedom of the seas, eannot reckon upon the northern nations, although they are blood relations.’ *