HARD FIGHTING FOR IMPORTANT POINTS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16704, 24 July 1916, Page 5

HARD FIGHTING FOR IMPORTANT POINTS.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION BY GERMAN PRISONERS.

GRAVE ANXIETY MANIFESTED.

Received 5.45 p.m. July 23. LONDON, July 22. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: The present stage of the advance is causing us very hard fighting for important positions on high ground, which must be gained and held before new progress can be made over the open country. The .enemy is gathering reserves and flinging them against us to check our onward movement at all costs./ He has apparently brought new batteries of heavy guns, because his fire is increasing. German prisoners reveal that grave anxiety is reigning behind the German lines, where they do not minimise the greatness of our menace, which they are straining every nerve to formidably resist. On Thursday the enemy lost many men and valuable ground against both the French and English. Early on Thursday morning, after a long bombardment, we attacked between Delville high woods and westward of these positions. The enemy, in great strength, maintained a strong defence. He suffered severely, and was forced to retreat in disorder upon some parts of the line.