New-York tribune., 1916-07-15
Three Villages and
Many Prisoners Re-
ported Captured.
HEAVY FIGHTING
STILL GOING ON
New Gain Puts Teuton
Hold on POzierS in
Grave Danger.
BY ARTHUR S. DRAPER.



London, July 1i.-London, cele.
brating Bastile Day, was thrilled to-
day by the news that General Haig
had opened the second phase of the
great offensive in Picardy.
In a battle that exceeded in vio-
lence the first assault thirteen days
ago the British troops carried the
German second line on a four-mile
front, captured the villages of Baz-
antin- Petit, Bazantin-le-Grand and
Longueval and seized the remaining
German positions in the Trones
Wood. They pushed their line for
ward mile.
Everywhere in the capital to-day
the French tricolor was displayed.
England was determined to show he-
appreciation and admiration for her
ally, whose fight has been so valiant.
Perhaps it was the same spirit that
inspired the British soldiers this
morning when they sprang forward
to the attack.
The battle began at daybreak.
Only the day before yesterday the
German first line from Hardecourt
to Ovillers had been won and the
big guns had begun to pound once
more at the Teuton trenches. Lon
don hardly expected that the new as
sault would begin until the shells
had cleared the way more COM
pletely.
Guns Hammer All Night.
But all night the heavy artillery
, had been hammering without pause
at the second line. With the ap-
proach of dawn the bombardmen.
was redoubled, and soon after the
first of General Haig's troops left
their defences to begin the attack.
Furious fighting continued for the
rest of the day and is still going on
/ tonight. The Germans, taken un-
/ awares by the swiftness with which
| the attack had been renewed, were
/ forced back easily at first. But soon
reinforcements were brought up and
/ heavy counter-attacks begun.
Two of these thrusts were crushed
by the British fire before they reached
the newly-won British positions. Then,
in the afternoon, third was launched
at Bazentin-le le-Pett. So fierce was
this assault that General Haig's troops
were pushed out of the village. But
fresh infantry was brought up and
the Teutons routed once more.
In the Trones Wood soldiers Of the
West Kent Regiment had been sur
rounded two days ago ~ the Germans.
They held out valiantly for forty-eight
hours, until their comrades, forging
on to-day in the new attack, succeeded
in rescuing them.
British Blast Their Way.
By hewing. blasting and bayonetting
their way, the British broke through
the German second line from above
Bazentin to below Trones Wood. In
area won this is much the best work
done by the British since the begin
ming of the last fortnight. Fighting
continues around Ovil,ers and Writ
ually the whole village is now in Brit
ish hands.
The capture of Longueville brings
Genefal Haig's line five miles east OF
the original front and into position
with the French at Hardecourt. In the
wood beyond Longueyille and the high
points Of the ridge the battle is un-
abated.
Slowly but steadily the British adj
vance continues. The positions they
won to-day put in peril the German
ho'd on Pozieres, on the main road
from Albert TO Bapaume. The Anglo
French gains from July include now
fifteen villages and over 10000 pris'
oners.
To-day's fyhting developed two
weaknesses Of he enemy he Is unable
to bring up sufficient reserves to make
successful counter attacks, and IN
fighting at close quarters he will sur
render. Observers at the front say
that the resistance 10 this second at
; tack was much weaker than that Of
I the uEst. Inc VI fhC prem
mary bombardment seems to confirm
this.
Stern Work Coming.
Fully appreciating that there is still
much hard work ahead of Sir Douglas
Haig and his gallant fighters, the Brit
ish public considers the progress in
the last fortnight as an augury Of
greater things. Having forced their
way through positions considered i'm
preenable by the Germans, IL is be-
levea that the enemy's cunning de-
fences behind his second line are not
interminable. Losses are running high
on both sides. Machine gunfire is sc-
counting for the heavy list of minor
casualties. But British officers are still
fully satisfied that the gains have been
bought at a fair price.
Dutch reports indicate that the Ger
mans are extremely nervous a, the
a-t - II. L