Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-08-03
FRENCH CAPTURE
GERMAN POSITION
Strongly Fortified Post Near
Helm Wood Taken, Says
Paris Official Report.
GERMAN GAIN AT CHENOIs

Paris, Aug. 2.-North of the
Somme river last night the French
troops took a powerfully fortified
German work between Helm wood
and Monacu farm, it was officially
announced by the French war depart
ment this afternoon.
On the right bank of the Meuse
river, north of the fortress of Yer
dun, there was a violent series of en-
gagements throughout the night at
Vaux-Le- -Chapitre wood and Chenois,
extending to the east as far as to the
south of Damloup.
After series Of unsuccessful at
tacks, some with asphyxiating gas, the
Germans gained little ground in
Vaux-Le- -Chapitre wood and at Che
nois. During the actions the French
took prisoner 100 Germans, including
three officers.
A Russian accommodating party, the
statement adds, made bayonet
charge III the Champagne region, dis
persing a German detachment,
Text Of Statement.
The text of the statement follows
North of the Somme, between
Helm wood and the Monacu farm, our
troops captured fortified work
strongly held by the enemy. South
of this river, an attack, delivered by
US near Estrees, resulted in our oc-
cupation of German trench to the
northwest of Deniecourt; we also
took some prisoners.
"In the Champagne district, west
of Auberive, a Russian accommodating
party delivered a bayonet charge
against a detachment Of the enemy,
which was thereby dispersed, leaving
behind number of dead.
"On the right bank Of the Meuse
river the fighting continued last night
with violence along the front between
Vaux LIE Chapitre and Chenois and
spread to the east as far as point
to the south of Damloup. The enemy,
after series of fruitless attacks,
some of which were accompanied by
the spreading Of asphyxiating gas,
gained a little ground in the Naux
lie Chapitre wood and at Chenois, but
elsewhere all their endeavors were
checked by our fire. In the course
of these engagements, which result I'd
in important losses to the enemy, we
took 100 prisoners, including three Of
ficers.
Along the Somme front our avia-
tors yesterday showed great activity.
A total of thirty-three aerial encoun-
tiers took place over the lines OF the
enemy. One German aeroplane, at
tackled by two Nieuport machines, was
seen to fall in flames, while fourteen
other German machines, seriously
damaged, were compelled to land or
were seen to dive down within their
lines.
German Official Report.
Berlin, Aug. 2.-(Via London.) }
On the high road between Maricourt
and Cleary, n the region of the River
SOmme, frenCn troops penetrated 10
our completely demolished trenches,
says the official statement issued to-
day by the German army headquar-
ters. The Germans captured hill in
the salient northeast of Fort Zoue-
vile in the region of Verdun.
With regard to the operations on
the eastern front the statement says
several Russian attacks against the
German positions in the Stokhod Sec
tor. broke down.
Italians Defeat Austrians.
Rome, Aug. 2.-(Via London.)-
Austrians suffered severe defeat in
Mondays engagements in the Astico
valley, the war office announced to-
day. Their attacks on the Italian
lines at Monte Seluggio, Castellatto
and Monte Cimone were repulsed
with extremely heavy losses for the
attacking forces, the official state
ment declares.
An Italian aerial squadron dropped
four tons of high explosives on the
Whitehead torpedo and submarine
works west of Fiume in Hungary,
yesterday, seriously damaging the
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