, 1916-07-12

issued by the War Office 20 light is as follows:
Despite stubborn resistance on the part OF
the enemy Our infantry, well assisted 10y our
artillery, have pushed their advance WIN
the utmost gallantry throughout th!S
morning and gained several import
tant successes. South of Thiepvni, after u
fierce preliminary bombardmtnt, a further
portion of The immensely strong work known
as the leipzig redoubi was carried by assault.
This redoubt is situated in a salient OF the
German line, and the enemy has eyeited
all his ingenuity over it's fortlhcation during
the last 20 months. Further south, Que OF
our brigades attacking from the west forced
its way across 500 yaIds of the German front
line trenches into the enemy's detences ia
Oviilers. Fierce lighting. is now in progress
for possession of he village. Following our
successes OF last night to the east OF La Bo1s-
selle, we advanced our line over a maze of
German trenches on a front OF nearly 2,OoO
Yards to a depth of 500 yards. North Of
Fncourt, linking up with The above attack,
we drove The enemy from Two woods and
three lines of trenches. About 10 a. IN. the
Prussian Guards were thrown Into the Il lit
east of ContnlhlAissOn IN Il dtspelnte effort
to force us back. The attack was crushed
by onr fire. Tx enemy subsequently lei
back to the nor h, ltnying 200 PRISONERS OF
various regiments III OuI hands. ABOUT
noon our infantry carried the village OF Com
talmaisson by storm, but were subsequently
forced ont aga in by a strong countel-attack
The enemy's casualties to-day must have
been very severe. Large numbers OF troops
retiring over The open, were caught by our
artillery, and the village Of BamleIln le Petlt
heavily shelled at a time when 1t was seen to
be full of German reserves. An officer PHI
soner states that his battalion came under q
~ o1;,r N,oohiuo -o,7D fro from Onp Of orr
aeroplunes, which was flying over the battle
field at an altitude OF 800 feet, Shortly
afl el wards the same battalion WIS heavily
shelIed by our long range guns. Heavy
rain has been falling throughout the day and
the sodden ground and flooded state Of the
trenches added to the d ificulty experienced
BY our troops.
Paris, July 7th-The Official statement
issued by the Wa Office tonight is MS To-
lows: On both sides Of the Somme, tht'e
was no action of Importance during the day.
Between the Disc and the AisDe a surprise
attack attempted by the enemy during the
night at Molin-Sous-I ou-V Vent, completely
failed On the right bank of The Meuse,
fairly spirited fighting occurred during the
day. The Germans launched several attacks
successfully in the region of Thianmont
which were preceded by a bombnrdment OF
our positions.Iu one of these attacks they sue
ceeded in obtaining a footing in our advance
trenches, but couuter-attack delivered about
2 o'clock enabled us to reestablish our Inc
which reaches to the immediate neigh
bourEood of the Thiaumont work All
other attempts OF the enemy TO advance
in this sector were repulsed by the
fire of our mitrailleuses and cost hlm
serious losses. Very violent artillery
commandments continue in tie sector north
of SouyilIe and in the region OF La Lnufee.
The usual cannonading is i'll progress on the
rest of the front. The Belgian commnnica-
ton reads: In the curse Of the morning "a
rather heavy artillery battle took place III he
region of Newport and east Of R"mscapelle.
We have continued with success our bonn
bardment of the German position at Drle-
grachten and Steenstraete Towards the day
lively fighting with bombs broke out toward
Steenstraete and Boo inghe.
Rome, July 7tb.-The Italian offensive IS
being pressed strongly and in various sec
tors further progress has been made. The
Official announcement of this operation from
the War Office to-day is as follows Between
the Adige and the Astico there is intense
activity of artillery. particularly the eneml's
batteries which are boinbarding the slopes
of Monte Maio. North of the Posina the