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The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954) (about)
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Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1599525
6 corrections, most recently by Dancer - Show corrections
ANZACS IN BATTLE
Glory Won in France ATTACK ON POZIERES "A DASHING SUCCESS"
LONDON, July 24.
Leaving Paris at 11 o'clock on Monday morning, an unofficial message said:
"An epic struggle is being fought at Pozieres. . The Australians are fighting terrifically on both sides of the village. The British made a frontal attack, and hand-to-hand fighting continues in the streets and houses, which must be captured step by step. The village is a veritable fortress. The Germans have been strongly reinforced, and have re- captured a portion of the village."
A despatch received on Sunday afternoon from one of the war correspondents at the British headquarters gives details of the attack on Pozieres and Guillemont. It says:-
"Following the heavy bombardment of yesterday and last night, the British and Anzac troops delivered an attack towards Pozieres and Guillemont. Notwithstanding the enemy's desperate resistance, the Anzacs succeeded in establishing themselves in Pozieres, where they are now consolidating their line. It is reported that their casual- ties were comparatively light.
"Westward of the village, the British also successfully advanced, but found that the wire entanglements upon the right of Pozieres had been insufficiently destroyed, consequently the British progress was checked by the heavy machine-gun fire. Despite this, we gained a footing in Guille- mont, but, owing to a determined counter- attack, were unable to maintain the advan
tage.
"Our progress, upon the whole, continues satisfactory, especially in the neighbourhood of Pozieres, and also along the road run- ning from the village north-westward, upon which our troops are reported to be estab-
lished."
"The Times," in a leading article on Monday on the fighting on the Somme, says:- "The principal conflicts extend over a front of nearly seven miles from Pozieres, which was recently the centre of a shallow German salient, of which the capture was essential in order to facilitate an advance on the Thiepval plateau to Guillemont, an extremely strong position, which must he taken before Combles can be threatened. Pozieres and Guillemont practically consti- tute the powerful bastions of the present
German line.
"Sir Douglas Haig says that the Austra- lians at midnight on Saturday assaulted the German outer works in the neighbour- hood of Pozieres, and a later unofficial de- spatch states that the Australians estab- lished themselves in the village with com paratively light casualties.
"This is the first time that the Anzacs have participated in a pitched battle against German troops on the Western front, al- though they joined in a local fight at Armentieres on Wednesday.
"We welcome their dashing success, which appears to have had valuable results, as Sir Douglas Haig's last report speaks of further progress in the neighbourhood of Pozieres.
"The growing fury of the battle is the
natural outcome of the earlier Allied suc-
cesses. The German third system of defence has been violated, and unless the Germans can make a successful and continuous stand during the next few days their front may be in great peril. They are therefore, con- centrating all their available reserves, and are fighting with a fury which betokens a full knowledge of the magnitude of the
issues at stake."
AMERICAN EULOGY.
"Most Dashing Troops."
Mr. Frederick Palmer, the well-known
American war correspondent, who is now on the West front, has telegraphed to New York:- "To the Australians is due
the glory of to-day's action. The officers realised that Pozieres was a hard nut to crack. The task was given to the Australians, who have plenty of initiative. Some of their critics had said, 'They were all right in Gallipoli, but they will not be against the Germans. To- day, the first test in France, showed the quality of the Anzacs.'"
The London correspondent of the "New York Tribute" telegraphed on Sunday even-
ing:
"The Australian is recognised as the most dashing of all the British
troops."
140 Guns Captured.
The British and French, since July 1, during the fighting on the Somme front,
have captured 140 guns, 40 bomb-throwers, and several hundred machine-guns.
Official News.
SIR DOUGLAS HAIG.
.British Hdqrs,, Sunday, 3 p.m.
"Tile battle of the Somme has been re- sumed with intense violence on the entire Pozicres-Guillemont front. . The Terri- torials and Australians attacked respec- tively south-west and south-east ot
Pozieres.
' "The Australians attacked at midnight, and carried the enemy's outer works. Vio- lent fighting continues in the village, where tho Germans are resisting desperately, using many machine-guns." . ?
British Hdqrs., Sunday, 4 p.m.
"No definite progress is yet reported at Pozieres. Elsewhere on the front the fight- ing is equally intense. Wo recaptured the whole of Longucval in the morning, but the Germans retook the northern end of the village. The outskirts of Guillemont twice chnnged bunds."
British Hdqrs., Sunday, 9 p.m.
"Our troops made further progress in the neighbourhood of Pozieres, and we captured a number of prisoners. The battle on the rest of the front from Pozieres to Guille- mont continues with intense violence."
FBENCH.
Paris, Sunday, 3 p.m.
"An aitillery struggle is proceeding on the Somme front. A German night attack southward of Soyecourt failed under our
fire."
GEBMAS.
Berlin, Sunday, 7 p.m.
"Strong enemy reconnoitring detach- ments in the-vicinity of 'Eichebourg were repulsed. After increased .artillery fire during last evening and night between the Ancre and the Somme, there weie infantry attacks on the Thiepval-Guillemont front. The British attacks, despite their heavy sacrifices and the number of troops engaged, failed. Violent liand-to-hand fighting.took place near and west of Pozieres, al Foureaux' Wood, and on the western edge of Longuc- val. The enemy's attempted attacks between Guillemont and the Somme, followed hy separate French attacks, all failed."
Many French "Air Raids..,
Defeat of German Squadron.
The communiqué issued in Paris at mid- night on Sunday records many aerial opera- tions. Those include the dropping of bombs on the railway stations at Yigneulles lez-Hattonchatel (easfof Verdun), Huon- ville, and Amavillc (near Metz), T-iaon (north-east of Soissons), ahd Sainte Marie (in Alsace). At these places a total of 115 bomba were dropped. A squadron of 12 French machines dropped bombs on the barracks and railway.station nt Mülheim (on the Rhine), and on ila way back fought a German squadron, The French brought down four German machines, which crashed to the ground, while two French aeroplanes
were forced to descend.
Belgian Activity. _
German Lines Battered.
A Belgian communique, issued at Havre on Sunday, saj'B:
"During the past week our artillery and trench engines have continued to direct a destructive fire' on the German trenches on our sector of the front, about Steen straatc and Bocsinghc, and especially upon 1 their works near Hetsas, with the best of
j results. We made prisoner some Germans by a successful coup-de-main on,thc eastern bank of the Yscr-Yprcs Canal. Bombing warfnrc goes on d'lily, particularly in the direction of Bocsinghc."
Belgians Called Up.
' King. Albert, it is announced at Havre,
the temporary capital of Belgium, , has signed a decree, mobilising all single Ilel gians from 25 to'35 years of age immedi- ately. Bachelors up to 40 years of age and married men will then be called up at intervals of two months.
Germany Mourns New Losses.
' ITation's "life or Death."
Herr Max Osborn, correspondent for the ' Berlin newspaper, "Vossiche Zeitung," at
tho German headquarters, in referring to|
Hie German losses in the recent fighting, ? says:- '
"Our casualties were heavy, but thc|
Allies suffered fearful los-scs. We, how- ever, do not blind our eyes to the new mourning which has come to Germans. We are shaken by burning pain as new streams of German blood ore flowing, and recognise our powerlessneFS. After two .ears of war the angel of destruction is passing over Hie ranks of the German nrmy with merci- less fury, as if the death dance had juit beirun. It is now a question of life and deatli with our nation."
Effects of Allies' Bombardment.
A German officer, who has been inter- viewed by the "Vossiche Zeitung,", says that it is not known in the German army how great the English reserves are. The length of the British offensive will depend upon the strength of these reserves.
"Our positions," the officer continued, "were bndly knocked about, but the dug- outs and shclters'luckily held out very well. Finally, rainy weather came to help us."
"FOR KING AND EMPIRE."
Badge for the Discharged.
The King lias approved of a special silver
I badge being awarded to officers and men f of the army and navy, members of nursing services, and civilian doctors serving with
¡the Uritish, Indian, and overseas forces,
who, on account of wounds or sickness, have been discharged from the army or
na\y. .>
Tho badge is a circle an inch nnd a quarter in diameter, inscribed "For King and Em- pire, for Services Rendered," circumscribed around the Imperial cipher surmounted by
a crown.
A HAPPY NIGHT FOR AUSTRALIA.
Congratulatory references to the capture of Pozieres vvcre made last night by His Excellency the Governor'(Sir Arthur Stan- ley), at ii lecture given by Professor Sir Baldwin Spencer, nt the Melba Hall, Uni versitv, to the officers and men of the 14th and 15th Reinforcements of the 6th Bri- gade. This was a happy night for the people of Australia, he said, for the Aus- tralians were taking part in that great battle -the turninfr-point of the Ivor, ho hoped - the Battle of the Somme, an'd it was a happy omen for the war that the citizen soldiers of the old country and this new land lind united in the attack on Pozieres. We were still a long way 'from final victory, hut he felt that our men would sweep on through the gap that was being cleared. Wc would sweep on till we lind taught the Germans a lesson that the free manhood of Great Britain, in company with thal of the fiec nations, which were its Allies, was not to be despised.
"Bear yourselves like gentlemen," His Excellency continued, "and, when the time comes, you may be assured that you will be welcomed as having udded another laurel to the wreath which encircles the brows of
Australia."