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Timaru Herald, Volume CV, Issue 160, 28 September 1916, Page 6

Thiepval and" (Joinbles have latum, witli mo lugn ground easC oi xmupval ana um lunineu villages ul X'regicuurt, ea/Si, and ULieiiuuccouro, norm oi (Join Dies, aiao vv/o small wooas wnion .extend the hrench successes eastward. These are great gums* made more valuable uy the iact that in Uombies the (j'errnans had stored huge quantities oi munitions, which have been captured. Thiepval, on the extreme north oi the offensive 'area,- was ,such a powerful stronghold that the British preferred' encirclement to a frontal attack, and for weeks past had been working round it from Pozieres, which lies to the southeast. From Pozieres by Mouquet farm to Thiepval is only about 3000 yards, but the whole gently tilted face of the plateau lay open to the enemy's fire from

the latter place, field guns and batteries of all sizes nad'been placed in other commanding positions, and tbe slowness ot the - encircling- operations was not surprising. Thiepval itself was' *■ maze of fortificationSi but Thiepval has now fallen—and fallen cheaply, it is stated—to the British assault, and the German front above the Somme has been deprived of a most powerful support.,

On September 25th last year- ' began the offensives in Champagne and Artois. In the firsV ' the French pierced all the,Gcr-, man lmes, but on a front so- nar- . row that they were unable' tb ' develop their success. In Artois tbe British made progress on a. front, of GSOO yards, but the victory of Loos was spoiled by the bad timing of reserves. Our armies had not then learned the complex art of war as they have learned it since, and they had not" . the munitions which they nowhave. Now, a year later, tho Allies have just struck their latest blow on a front of twenty miles. St. Vaast wood; reached oy tne hrencii, is oignt miles iroiu wnere tne onensive nrst' began, wiiiie furrlier north. Dritisli advanced posts are within three miies ot Bapaume. .Tne takingol (Jombles Dy combined attacks is of the perfect co-ordination winch exists between,the two armies. Gueudecour't, lies Jboeuis, iviorval, Uombles, liaurepas, and Ulery, now iu tne Allies' nands, are ail upon -i, line winch stretciies due south from Bapaunie, wiiiie other positions "seized are considerably beyond it. It looks as if, now Thiepval has been taken, the whole offensive may be extended further north, and Bapaume, which forms a very important centre of operations for the Germans, conquered by encirclement as Thiepval and Combles have already been, and Peronne is in a fair way to be. The offensive has bitten deep and evenly, but it may not be yet long enough for its further deepening to bring down the wholo system of the Germans' western lines.

News from the other theatres is relatively unimportant. There have been no new developments on the JAussian front. The Germans admit further retirements from the Carpathian passes, and the lloumanians claim to haveforced the retreat of the Bulgarians' right wing in the Dobrudja, but just where this right wing is it would be hard to say. The Roumanians. have troubled ■verylittle, so far, about the mere reporting of their campaigns. The Salonika fighting continues normally, and a "powerful" following l is believed to be assured for M. Venizelos in his revolutionary' movement. Germany, it is officially shown, is endeavouring to force Holland to feed her children for her, a sure sign that the blockade-.is-being felt. It. will certainly not be an unneutral-act if Holland refuses to assist her neighbour by. accepting uninvitc.d guests.