Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-07
AUSTRALIANS HOLD
GAINS THEY MADE
Three Desperate Counterattacks
by Germans to Retake Lost
Ground Fail.
CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO FIRES
British Smash Defenses of Enemy
Into Irregular Mounds
of Earth.
BY FREDERICK pALaIER,

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE
FIELD. SATURDAY evening, August 3
Under the most ncrciless concentration
of shell fire. tn" Australians are hold
ing on to their gains to-day. after their
advance last night on "A two mile front.
The Germans already have delivered
three powerful counterattacks in ef-
forts TO retakc the lost ground and all
failed. In one counterattack the Ger
mans cam" forward, holding up their
hands
Behind them the British guns were
placed in curtains OF she'll fire through
which II was Impossible for them to
retreat. Will" the Australian machine.
gun and rifle fire was moving them
down. and made II hopeless to con-
tlnue their charge. It was death which
ever way they moved; death If they
stood still or laid down in the bullet
swept space. and they surrendered
rather than continue their vain effort.
Their last PREVIOUS attack having
been by the right flank. the British re.
newed the offensive by the left flank.
after a week Of bombing and sapping
Here the task fell to the Australians.
who added another victory to the bril-
iiant record OF the taking OF PoZieres.
In Erilling heat, under a blazing sun.
they had been working under continual
shell IRE. digging their new trenches
on the left OF the break the british
have already made by thei. previous
attacks
BHITISH KEEP TT
TORNADO OF SHELL FIRE
This was ono cf the remaining i'm
mad been SO bitterly contested hy all
the gun power and cunning and stub
poTnhess both sides we're able to bring
TO bear. Upon this section Of strong
Held Notifications with deem duro,ts
the British kept up n tornado of shell
hre OF all calibers. They smashed the
detenses into irregular mounds az
earth which had no scmblance NJ
trenches
Meanwhile. not only d)d the German
guns return the compliment Of the Aus.
raiian front line. but kep, .up a cur
'a'n OF fire behind II. The Germans
managed TO stick In the ruins OF their
. l"r'ificaiions. digging new cover as
last as il was destroyed. and evident
" ia" German staff had determined
mat this summit ridge must be held
a. any cost,
When We 90" say the Australians
we don't try for nibhle. but for q
his bite "f the cherry" They have
taken the Germans by surprise aud
some what took the British staff by sur
prise when it found the frs, reports
correct, the Australians having taken
every rod OF the front which thev ar.
lacked with their usual swift rush.
back. but even after surrender tho,r
'!'eS were not safe. as they had TO pass
through tn" German curtain OF sbe,
hre behind the Australians, which had
been maintained With increased volume
an DAY With this additional front
the British now hold five miles of the
former German second line.
The Australians to-day are in sieb+
OF Marlin Huych and Courcellettes. Be
yond is Thiepval on the summit hill.
where the British attack on, July /.
north OF the Ancre. met its heaviest
losses and was repulsed BY machine
guns brought out of the dugouts. Now
this whole section could be put under
the enfilading fire of the British guns.
Whenever l look al that new Ger
man salient" said an officer who suf-
Tcred in the Ypres salient II feel
avenged. We have never had a worse
one in war for positions"
VALUE OF LATEST GAIN
REGARDED AS GREAT
The general opinion is that the value
of this latest gain cannot be underes-
timated and the heavy bombardment
proceeding In that neighhorhood indi-
Gates that the Austria lians will have a
stiff job holding this new position.
Universal satisfaction is felt among
the British staff over their success in
holding their gains. though the Ger
man artillery concentrates in increas-
ing force and arrival of re-cnforcements
for the German infantry continue to be
reported.
Never have the operations been more
n battle Of guns than this week.
Throughout tho days of the recent pc
riod when the British were not attack
ing with infantry the shell fire has
been uncensng. German prisoners re-
port heavy casualties from the prodi-
gal fire of the British long-range guns
in villages and camps anywhere from
the front line to from five to ten miles
in the rear.