The European War.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XVIIII, Issue 448, 16 November 1916, Page 4

The European War.

Par Prana Association—Copyright; THE SOMME FIGHTING). (High Commissioner’s Cable.) LONDON, Nov. 14 (11.35 p.m.). British official. —The village of Beauoourt-sur-Anerc is ours. The total I number of prisoners is now reported to be 5000, and more are coming in today. In a successful local advance eastwards oi Butte-de-Wiirlencourt, practically all our objectives were gained. THE BRITISH VICTORY. APPLAUDED BY FRENCH PRESS. (Australian and N.Z, Cable Assocn) lieu v veu 0.50 p.m., Nov. 15th. LONON, Nov. 14. Paris newspapers applaud the British success on the Ancre as the more remarkable because the weather was not perfect. The assault commenced in a thick fog. The preliminary efforts to mlueo the salient north-west of Thienval included an immense number of aerial reconnaissances. General Haig thus ascertained tho exact nature of the obstacles which tho enemy had accumulated. The explosion of many mines enabled the seizure of important point d’appui in the Gormans’ first line. The battle in the fog necessitated infinne precautions. Tho troops, ulvancing without the aid of airmen, were obliged io exerei.se every care lest they should mistake eaeh other for tho enemy. The haul of prisoners was the large-,: since the advance on the Somme began. General Haig’s push was based cn a desire to remove an nwkwaixl angD in his line before resuming the grand 'ttack on Bapaume. i ! j MOLENT BOMBARDMENT RV ENEMY, Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter, Received 10.55 p.m., Nov. 15th. PARIS, Nov. 15. Official. —North of the Sommo the enemy’s artillery, to which ours vigorously replied, violently bombarded our lino in the region of Pressoiro and tho sector which branches from La Maisonette in the Argoune. We occupied the crater which a German mine created. On the Verdun front there has been an intermittent cannonading action in the region of Douaumont and Vans. HOW THE ATTACK WAS MADE. ELABORATE TRENCH SYSTEM. NEW BRITISH LINE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received 11.3-5 p.m., Nov, 15th. LONDON, Nov. 15. Mr Peroival Gibbon, war correspondent, telegraphing on Monday, states; —Tho British objectives in tho present attack included a formidable tangle of trenches, with communications on ’noth flanks of Beaumont Hamel, the most complicated and elaborate yet constructed on this front. Tho village and the lino generally had been subjected for days past to short biusts of intense fire from our heavy guns, especially the strong points of tho salient. Yesterday the shelling was serious, precise, and calculated, searching the whole line. Finally, this morning, before daylight, the barrage began. Tho attack began shortly after six. Beaumont Hamel, in the centre, was carried almost in a single rush, the troops plugging across tho village to the sloping ground beyond and to the rqad winding'towards the Ancre. The land northward rises in a broad swell towards Serre, and thither the troops carried all positions until well advanced on the slopes, when they dug in successfully. The attack on these points met with the success of a. surprise. Wounded men state that tho first trench was weakly held. The attackers encountered strong forces in the fourth trench where tho enemy, escaping from advanced positions through a tangle of intricate communications, gathered. Brisk fighting ensued. Nothing remained of Beaumont Hamel, which was levelled like Pozieres and a dozen villages over which the tidal wave of battle has rolled. There was not even a house nor any signs of where they stood, but thirty feet below ground a new village had bean creeled. A labyrinth of great dugouts had been lavishly excavated and finished with typical German thoroughness, A position south Of the Ancre was carried with equal success. The new hue traversed tbe outskirts of Beaucqurt.

SALONIKA. SERBIANS OCCUPY IMPORTANT POSITION. ENEMY SUFFERS SEVERELY. Australian and N.Z. Cabin Assn, and Reuter. Received B.Go p.m., Nov. 15th. LONDON, Nov. 11. Serbian communique.—ln sanguinary fighting against, the (ioniums and Bulgarians on the 13Hi, trenches repeatedly changed hands. Wo definitely occupied important enemy positions near 'l'eparoi, the enemy suffering enormously in killed and wounded. We also took prisoner 1000, mostly Germans, and took important booty. LIVELY ARTILLERY FIGHTING. BOOTY AND PRISONERS CAPTURED. (Australian and \.Z. Cable Assn.; and Reuter. Received 10.55 p.m., Nov. loth, PARIS, Nov. 15. 1 The artillery has been very lively between the Coma, and Prespa lake. The booty the Franco-Serbian.s cap lured on November 10-12 includes twentylive guns, of which eight are heavy,- and much other material. The prisoners totalled 1147. THE AIR WAR AUSTRIANS BOMB PADUA. MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN RILLED. < Australian ami N.Z, Coble Assn.) Received C p.m., Nov. loth. » ROME, Nov. 14. The Austrians attempted to bomb Venice on Saturday, but were repulsed. They bombarded Padua. The biggest bomb fell on a large storehouse where over a hundred cottagers were taking refuge. Most of the victims were blown to pieces. Sixty-two bodies have been recovered, of which twenty are babies, thirty-one women, and eleven old men. Other bodies were buried beneath immense piles of wreckage, ihe bodies were so mutilated that many of the women and little children could not be identified. The newspapers are madly indignant at the atrocity and s;.y that the young men at the front will tec the horror avenged. ROUMANIA. ROUMANIAN RETIREMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter. Received 1.85 a.m., Nov. 16th, LONDON, Nov. 15. Roumanian communique.—ln the Dragoslavelo region the enemy, supported by heavy artillery, compelled the Roumanian left wing to retire. There was fierce fighting on the left bank of the Alt. Positions were constantly changing hands. Finally tho enemy progressed with new and superior forces. GREECE. NEUTRAL ZONE DESIRED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn, and Reuter. Received 1.35 a.m., Nov. 10th. ATHENS. Nov. 15. General Roques, the French War Minister, had an audience with King Constantine and requested that an effective neutral zone between the Provisional and Athens Governments b« established in order that full liberty may bo given those desiring to join the National movement; also the utilisation of railways for revictnolling Allied troops. CENTRAL POWERS. CROWN PRINCE TRANSFERRED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn,) Received 9 p.m., Nov. 15th. LONDON. Nov. 14. It is officially announced r.t Berlin that the Crown Prince is leaving Verdun and taking the - command in Alsace.

BRITAIN. NIGERIAN PROPERTIES AFCi TIONED. | i I (Australian and N.Z. Cabin AssnJ Received 6.50 p.m., Nov. 15th. | LONDON, Nov. 14. There were exciting scones at the sale of Nigerian properties. Among the crowd of business men were many vho were hostile to the sale. Before the sale the Colonial Office amended the conditions of the auction, enabling Mr iionar Law to disapprove of any purchase or end a contract without reasons being given, also enabling the Governor of the colony to require any owner or lessee to prove that he was not a trustee for an enemy subject or a company under enemy control. An important freehold site in the main thoroughfare of Lagos was sold for .-€'16,500. Sales for the day realised £299,250. DOiUTNTONS AND FOOD RFPPLTES. PRESENTATION TO MR TTAMPARD Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received 1.35 a.in., Nov. Kith. LONDON, Nov. 15. The Colonial Institute presented an illuminated address to Mr Mampard in recognition of bis Dominion tour. Mr Hampard said that the Empire's duty, in view of future submarine possibilities, was to have stores of food in Britain in case of need. They ought to produce their utmost in Britain, but the opportunities were limited, while they were illimitable in the Dominions. Eari Grey said he was communicating with ihc Dominions and Colonies and hoped some would take a practical step towards co-ordinating the Home and Dominions’ policies. general news 1 AMERICAN LOAN FOR FR\MF. Reuter's Telegrams. Received 8.55 p.m., Nov. 15th. NEW YORK. No'-. IL The fifty million French loan ha been fully subscribed.