, 1916-07-12

number of guns and stores were also taken
from the enemy.
London, July 1Olh-The British troops
have made steady progress III the face of
stubborn opposition in the neighbourbood
ii OylIleIs Oh The Somime front, according to
the Official statemen from General Head
quarters last NIGHT. Two German counter
attack near the Bois-de-Trone were re.
pulsed.
London, July 9Ih-The Official statement
issued late last nigh, reads: The fighting
TO-DAY hHs beer principally on our eXtIeme
right flank where further important successes
were gained by our troops. To the east Of
B0Yuafay wood after a fierce preliminary
bomhaldment we stormeG n line Of trenches
and gniued i~odgment in q strongly defended
wood known as the Bots dt-1rones. There
we captured $50 prisoners and several mach
ine-guns. The French on our night flank
greatly assisted our advance by the tle Of
their artillery. The enemy loss es from the
combined anglo French bombardment were
severe. A strong German couBter-attack i'll
mass, subsequently launched across the open
against these cap, ured positions, completely
broke down under the fire Of Is Founders
anl Is miilimetre guns. The enemy retired
in disorder. In the neighbouIhood Of
Ovilers, hand to hand fighting coutin-
nes among the ruins of the village, but
there too we made an appreciable ovd"nce.
Despite the cloudy weather our aeroplanes
and kite balloons did some work taking
photographs and directing the fires of the
batteries. A large explosion was caused in
one Of the enomy's ammunition depots and
bombs we've dropped on his bllleta. One of
our mnchints although disabled sustained q
running fight Of t" enty minutes with three
hostile aeroplanes and afterwards Landed
Gofalu IN nm hYyf unIndTnnA With this
exception few enemy machines were seen
and these were far behind his own trenches.
London, July 9th.-The hghtiug between
the Ancle and Somme rivers continued last
night although with less violence than dur
the preceding two days. The War Office
announced to-day that further progress has
been made near Ovillers and Tint III another
sector a group Of defended buildings had
been captured. The statement is as folloWs:-
Last night between the Ancre and the
Somme the fighting was considerably less
violent than the last two days. We made
further progress in the neighbou'hood Of
Ovillcrs and in another sector captured a
group o. defended buildings. The Gcimans
made no furthe, attempt to recnptn'e their
lost position held by us. Near Givenchy
we successfully sprang three mines. Furth-
er north after heavy bombardment Of u
portion Of the sector held by New Zealand
els a strong hostile local attack succeeded
in entering our trenches at one point. After
luif an hours f2htirs the enemy was elected
by the New Zealonders leaving many Ger
mans dead in our trenches. There WIS no
incident of Importance on the rest of the
front.
Paris, July 8th.-The Official communion
ton issued by The War Office tonight
reads: 10 the north of the Somme not
withstanding the persistent rain aud
fog out troops delivered an assault this
porning on the village of Hardecoult and on
Momelon to the north in cooperation with
tie British army, which attacked from its
side the Bots ae-1rones and a farm situated
south of that wood. In thir live MIN
utes our infantry BY reason OF the vigour of
the attack was in possession Of the objects
aimed at. Two German counter attacks, one
from the north, the other from the east,
were launched in the afternoon on Mamtlon
conquered by us but were broken by our fire.
The Germans who sffered heavy losses in
the course of these actions left 260 p isoners
in our hands. TO the south of the Somme
there was no event of importance 10 report
in the course of the day. On the Verdun
front our first and second lines were subject
al To mn intermittent bOmbaIdment. On