THE POZIERES-GUILLEMONT STRUGGLE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14147, 26 July 1916, Page 5

THE POZIERES-GUILLEMONT STRUGGLE.

IMPORTANT ADVANTAGES

SECURED.

REPEATED COUNTER-ATTACKS

REPULSED.

ENEMY'S CASUALTIES VERY

HEAVY

DETAILS OF THE ASSAULT

AN EPIC STRUGGLE

.Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

London, July 24

Sir Douglas Haig reports that apart from continuous shelling on both sides, the night was comparatively calm after yesterday's severe fighting. The enemy's repeated counter-at-tacks yesterday between Guillemont and High Wood, did not gain any advantage. Our artillery and machine guns inflicted the heaviest casualties. We gained some ground near the high road in the direction of Guillemont.

Despite the enemy's stubborn defence we secured important advantages in Pozieres. A large portion of the village is in our hands.

Details of the fighting on the Somine show that the principal conflicts extend over a front of nearly seven miles from Pozieres, recently the centre of a shallow German salient, the capture of which was essential in order to facilitate the advance on Thiepval Plateau to Guillemont.

An extremely strong position must be taken before Combles is threatened.

Pozieres and Guillemont practically constituted powerful bastions in the present German line.

The Central News Agency's Paris correspondent says the British bombardment in the Pozieres' region was resumed with increased intensity on Saturday evening, indicating that the hour of attack was approaching. British troops advanced to the assault on the whole line on Sunday morning, while the artillery lengthened the

range

The artillery's preparation was excellent, but some armoured shelters were only partially destroyed, and machine guns were still in place when the attack began, especially about Pozieres village.

The British, displayed remarkable , coolness, courage and indomitable ten- ■ acity, and reached the enemy's lines and captured several positions, but superior numbers and artillery fire caused. them to fall back at some points, only to return when reinforced. The fighting at the village reached the highest point at 2 o'clock in the morning, when the British seized the advanced defences and penetrated the streets. They stormed the majority of the houses. The struggle was frightful. The Tommies fought hand-to-hand. The tide of battle swayed until six o'clock in the evening, when the British reached the northern extremity of the village, but the Germans returned in great masses and re-took portions of lost ground, forcing their opponents out of some houses.

While the epic struggle raged the Australian battalions were engaged in terrific fights on both sides of the village.

The Anglo-Australian troops were still fighting w!th the same ardour at 8 in the evening. They had regained

some ground

Meanwhile the battle on the Guille-mont-Longueval line was most stubborn, but at midnight seemed to have turned in favour of the British.

rades