EVERY REASON FOR THE HIGHEST HOPES.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14129, 4 July 1916, Page 5

EVERY REASON FOR THE HIGHEST HOPES.

NO FACTOR OVERLOOKED BY THE STAFF.

ITISH ARTILLERY ADVANTAGE

EARLY PHASES OF THE BATTLE.

EAGERNESS OF THE TROOPS.

SANGUINARY VILLAGE FIGHTING

(United Service.)

| (Received July 3, 7.30 p.m.) | . London, July 3. j \ The "Morning Post" says: No j I longer may the Kaiser sarcastically j refer to Britain's "contemptible little J ara.y." The people have every reason I to. be buoyed with the highest hopes, | but it is premature to assume that the offensive will soon end. Sir Douglas I-Taig and his staff hail left nothing I undone to pave the way to success, and I are encouraged by valuable informa- , tion obtained by the trench raids and I the Air Service. We probably now ; possess the advantage in artillery, : our concentration including ey,ery ! type of gun. The medical and Red ". Cross services are probably the best

* ever created, and there is every ar--1 rangement to alleviate the inevitable f toll of suffering. » Describing the battle from a viewfj point "near Albert, .a, correspondent * says the whole sky was in a" blaze.

CABLE NEWS.

[P&ess Association—Copyright.]

Peasants twenty miles in the rear, in awe-stricken groups, watched the display, which resembled' brilliant summer lightning.

A French officer who experienced the worst phases of the German bombardaent, declared that he has seen nothing to surpass it. All day and all night the British artillery was vomiting millions of shells.

The great day of battle broke with sunshine, and the guns were gathered for a, final effort before the British lions were loosed upon their prey. Soldiers watching the pandemonium said, "Pity the poor devils catching this lot."

Great' clouds of thick black smoke, carried by a light south-easterly breeze, drifted towards the German trenches. The accuracy of the fire was unsurpassable. There was an opportunity to watch the extreme usefulness of the new British trench mortars, firing 25 rounds a minute. They are noteworthy for the destruction of entanglements and obstacles.

The quiescence of the Germans was becoming reir. arkable, and it was surmised that they were lying low. Occasionally scattered shrapnel fell in our lines, but they did not resent the immense nights of our aeroplanes.

Non-combatants were not permitted to witness the British charge, but the correspondent is reliably informed' that the men leapt from the trenches with a vigour and earnestness worthy of the best traditions of the Army. They were "fed up" with the trenches and welcomed a fight at close quarters.

The Germans realised that they were up against it, and fought grirdy inch by inch. The capture of the first line was a walk over, but our men encountered difficulties in the deeper trenches. Only their indomitable pluck and perseverance enabled them to triumph over superhuman obstacles.

The counter-attacks failed' everywhere except at Serre, where the enemy made a suddenly desperate offensive, and we fell back a little.

We pushed through Thiepval early on Saturday. The Germans, who were hidden in deep dug-outs, suddenly emerged into the streets, and furious fighting with all sorts of weapons followed, the Germans raining an inferno of sheila, and the British infantry replying, resulting in a big "strafe."

Watching the incessant bursting of projectiles it was difficult to understand how anything human could survive. The toll of blood was fairly heavy, but not excessivej considering the magriitxide of the operations. Happily a large proportion were only slightly wounded.