FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 145084, 8 September 1916, Page 3

FRANCE AND BELGIUM.

VERY- HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. 1 INTERESTING FRENCH SUMMARY. (Received Sept. 8, 8.55 a.m.) PAMS, Sept. 7. Each day the Somme struggle grows in promise of achievement and tho moment seems near when the local lighting will giro results of more than local importance. Already the Alhcs imminently threaten the extremely useful road parallel to tho front between Bapaume, Poronne and Itoye. The British are under two miles from tho road and tho latest French advance brings them within a few hundred yards of it. Tho French artillery sweeps the Peronno-Bapaumo section and it is difficult to sec how the enemy's heavy guns at Mount St. Quentin, north of Peronne, are going to got supplies. Tho capture of a portion of Andoriu AVood is valuable as tho wood, it is stated, sheltered the side of a ravine wliich tho Germans have boon in tho habit of utilising os an assembling point for counter-attacks. Tho result has only been an increase in the German losses. They are fighting with plenty of spirit, but tho French artillery shows itself equal to an increase in quality and quantity. The growing number of prisoners js a pleasing portent. Tho total taken by the French on tho Somnlb since July I is 42,000. The capture of Gomieeourt was a lino achievement by tiho Colonial Divisions, who, with splendid dash, tqok tlio village in forty minutes, cutting off half a battalion whose retreat was barred by a railway level-crossing. All surrendered. MORE HEAVY SIGHTING. AFTERMATH OF ADVANCE. LONDON, Sept. 6. General Sir Douglas Haig reports that severe fighting ensued at Ginchy. Our artillery caught and scattered a largo party emerging from Courcelette. PARIS, Sept. 7. A communique reports;—Desperate fighting continues in tho Chilly district. The Fronoh captured the northern position at VcnnaDdovillers. A spirited attack enabled us to carry the major portion of Bcmy-coi-Snn-terre, also the first lino of tho outskirts of Chatlines, and also along the Cbaulnes-Royo railway. HEAYY ALLIED BOMBARDMENT... AMSTERDAM, Sept. 7. Correspondents erupt: v-un the terrific character of tho Anglo-French bombardment. The Berliner Tageblatt says it was tho maddest gunfire the world had ever experienced. Never anywhere have guns boon brought together in such masses as in front of Maurepas. Clearly tho enemy attempted to cover every inch of tho German lines with shells, fighting with nothing else. It was brutal money wherewith ho bought his shells. General Gallwitz, tho Gorman army chief on tho Somme, said: “Wo may lose our projecting points, but they will never break through.” LONDON, Sept. 6. A Gqrman communique says:—There is undiminished intensity in tho battle on both sides of the Somme. Twentyeight Anglo-French divisions (560,000 men) were engaged. Tho enemy gains of ground were small. Clery remains his. AVo maintain our first position against a fresh French attack from Barlcux to the south of Chilly. Up to last night, south of the Somme we took 1468 prisoners. THE OFFICIAL REPORTS. GERMAN ATTACKS REPELLED. AV ELLINGTON, Sept. 8. Tho High Commissioner reports under date London, September 7 (2 p.m.); The Britisn officially report that under cover of darkness the enemy coun-ter-attacked at the lamzo Wood. After hand-to-hand fighting the Germans were driven hack, leaving nineteen prisoners. Fighting at Ginohy continues. The French officially report that a strong German attempt to dislodge them from Hospital Farm on tho north of tho Somme was dispensed with heavy loss to the enemy. On the south of tho Somme German attempts to reach new positions south-west qFßolloy-en-Santorre, also sputh of Barleux, failed, wo taking 400 prisoners. 0n : the right' bank of tho Meuse, after artillery preparation, wo captured tho first line of 1500 metres on tho Vaux-Chapitre-Senois front, taking 250 prisoners and ten machine-guns. GERMAN SELECTED POSITION. CAPTURED BY BRITISH. (Received Sept. 8, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 7. A correspondent with headquarters reports that since the Germains selected their main second line on, .the ridge between the Soinme and Moquet Farm they have spared no effort to render it impregnable. The writer believes that future military historians will regard its capture as the greatest achievement ef any army.

"VALUABLE RIDGE TAKEN,

BRITISH POSITION IM* PROVED, (Received Sept. 8, 11.25 a.m.) ! LONDON, Sept. 7. Mr. Philip Gibbs, stressing tho importance of tho gains since Sunday, says: “We have gained tho crest and, oven if tho offensive halted to-day, which it will not, our men’s winter position would bo enormously superior to that of tho enemy. Further, we have straightened an awkward salient and, if we take Ginchy and Thiepval, wo shall be well placed.” GROUND WELL HELD. IN SPITE OF ATTACKS. (Received Sopt. 8, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, Sopt. 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports;—Under cover of darkness tho Gormans counterattacked at Leuzo Wood and after hand-to-hand fighting wore repulsed. The fighting at Ginchy continues. There was considerable artillery activity on both sides and tho Germans during tho night wore using gas and lachrymatory shells. BUTCHERY NOT (WARFARE. WHEN GERMANS ARE BEATEN. (United Service.) (Received Sept. 8, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sopt. 7. The Tagcblait angrily declares that Fran co-British methods are not warfare but butchery. After the trendies have been battered by tho bombardment the infantry advances, to work which is a suitable mission for butchers. GAIN AT VERDUN. GERMAN FIRST LINE CAPTURED. (Received September 8, 11.25 a.m.) PARIS, Sopt. 7. A communique saysk—Wo broke up many attacks against our hew positions south of Bclloy en Santorre and south of Barloux. After stern artillery preparation wo attacked last night tho front from Vaux and Chapitro Wood to Lc Chenois, and took tho whole first lino on a front of 1500 metres. \ GETTING FRANC® BACK, By gradual steps. (Received Sopt, 8, 12.30 pan.) PARIS, Sopt. 7. Tho French advance has almost enclosed Chuulncs. Since July X, 29 French localities have been Ircod by tho Anglo-French. MR. GIBBS’ STORY. •, THE CAPTURE OF GUILLEMONT. LONDON, Sopt. 6. Sir. Philip Gibbs, in the Daily Chronicle, continues his vivid description of the capture of Cuilkanont, Louze Wood and Falfomont Farm. Curiously enough, be state®, tho enemy did not seem to expect tho attack, after they had flung thousands ’of gas shells iuto tho British trenches. The British went forward steadily, despite machine-guns sweeping the ground. They quickly reached tho.outskirts of ruined Guillomont, and rushed tho village, displaying tho finest valour. Tho first wave reached tho Gorman dug-outs, and had a little fighting underground, a few proud Germans refusing to surrender quickly enough, but the rest came out immediately, rejoicing at their luck. Half an hour later supporting troops advanced over the sunken road, where other Germans were captured. After reorganisation, some,of t-ho victors of Guillomont advanced on. Falferaont Farm, but ibis was too far for one day’s work, and they were driven to the outskirts of tho wood by a coun-ter-attack by tho Prussian Guard. The Germans, for once, faced British bayonets in tho attack on Falfemont Farm. The capture of Wedge Wood by tho British was continued next day, Wedge Wood being a solitary copse, of naked sticks, and Louse Wood oil a ridge above. Some waves broke into Wedge Wood, which was soon crowded with British soldiers, who seemed in a kind of scrimmage, from whence presently came a body of German prisoners. . Waves of Britishers continued advancing steadily on Falfomont Farm. They crept, nearer the edge of tho wood, and finally secured another body of German prisoners. Then strange things began to happen in the German line®. Parties from Louze Wood dashed towards tho Falfcmont Farm. The Prussian Guardsmen advanced shoulder to shoulder and made a serpentine line across tho "■found. Then, suddenly the right end of the lino crumbled away, and gaps opengcl, disclosing a thick bar of men. Our machine-guns were raking them like ninepins. The Prussian Guards fell face forward, those not wounded falling with "the dead to escape’ to bullets. . . , ~ , ■ , A counter-attack followed twenty minutes later, and a second. Gorman counter-attack was broken up m confusion. Wo took the wood m a battle that ended in' darkness and a great rainstorm. REPRISAL CAMPS ABANDONED. PARIS, Sept. 7. As the result of Germany’s negotiations with Franco it hah been agreed to abandon reprisal caipps, notably in Couxland and Poland, and to return French prisoners to ordinary war camps, ’ /