, 1916-07-12

marked, their efficiency becoming rapidly
reduced under punishment while ours was
maintained throughout. The fortilude of
the wounded was admirable. A boy OF the
first class, Johu Travers Cornwall, OF the
"Chester", was MORALLY wounded early ia
the action. He nevertheless remained stand
ing alone at a most exposed post quietly
awaiting orders until the end of the action,
with gun crews dead or wounded all around
him. His age was under 16 years. ] regret
that he has since died. | recommend his
case for special recognition in justice to his
memory and as an acknowledgment of the
high example set by him. Admiral Jelilcoe
then gives details of the battles which follow
close 10 what has already been published.
Petrogrnd, July e IA Russo-Japlnese
political Convention Of two articles was sign
ed today by the Russian Minister of For
eign Affairs, Sergius Sazanoff, and the J"pa-
nese Ambassador, Baron Ichiro Motono. The
object of the Convention is to unity the
efforts OF the two countries to MAINTAIN a
lasling and constant peace III The Far East.
London, July 7ih-The British steamship
"Gonnet' Of London has been sunk. She
was unalmed. The &C met was l ,ll2 tons
gross aud was built III 1879.
Paris, July 7th-Quiet prevailed last night
on both sides of the Somme river, snys the
War Office statement. The artillery on both
sides was active on the left and right bank
of the Mouse, especially on the Thiaumont
earth work and in the Fleury and Chenols
sections. A small German attack on the
French trenches ut the lie Pretre wood
failed. German aeroplanes yesterday drop
ped bombs on the open tOwHs OF Lure killing
il PERSONS, all of whom except one were wO-
men and children. Two German machines
were brought down near Mezieres.
British Headquarters in France, July 9Th.
The obstacles which the British troops, pnrti-
cularly in their attack north of the AncIe from
Gommecourt to La Boisselle, have had TO
encounter, have been prodlgious. Their
valour and tenacity have been superb, and
because of this their losses in officers and
men have been heavy. Nothing is to be gained
by conce1ing this fact that many units have
suffered dire losses. On this northern end
of the attacking line are regiments in some
cases only remnants of regiments, now
whose names will ring throughout Britain
when the time arrives for the full Story Of
the battles TO be told. Some of them are
the South Wales Borderers, the Border
Regiment, the Kings own Scottish Border
ers, the East LNncashires, the York and
Lancaahires, tue Seaforth Highlanders, the
Middlesex, DnbIins, Warwicks, Royal lrish
Fusiliers, Hampshires, Somersets and the
Rifle Brigade. All these and the Uistermen
will be handed down to fame as men who
wrought progidies Of valour i'll the face OF
almost superhumnn obstacles.
London, July 7th-The following was
given out today: This morning in certain
sections of the battlefield east of Albert
we resumed a vigorous offensive at dawn.
The Germans at the same time launched
heavy attacks on our new trenches in the
vicinity of the Apcre and north of Fricourt
with the result that violent fighting is now
in progress along the whole front between
the Ancre and Montauban. Up to the pres
ent several important tactical successes
have been gained by our infantry in the
vicinity of Ovillers, La Boisselle and Con
talmaison, but northwest of Thiepval the
enemy succeeded temporarily in regaining
two or thtee hundred yards of lost ground.
The operations of last night before the
resumption of the offensive reported in the
foregoing statement IRE described in an
earlier Official communication as follows:
Last night the enemy heavily bombarded
our new positions at Bernaffay Wood and
Montauban and near La Boisselle using in
some places larchrymatory shells. East
ward of La BoisselIe after severe fighting,
in which the enemy suffered heavy casual
t;os ,o oon mad onofhar krnnoh IN a front