The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-11
Assailants Have View of
Streets in Town Held as Base
by Teutons
FURIOUS FIGHTING
CONTINUES AT VERDUN
Germans Regain Much Ground
in Gallant Counter Strokes
Near Barleux Battle Line
From Sea to Hills

London, July leland to hand
lighting of great ferocity ragged in
many sectors of the Somme battle
| front today with no great territorial
| changes The allies on both banks OF
the river kept UP their steady ana
i Furnishing pressure against the Ger
/ mans The most important action or
the day Was the capture by the
French. In a dashing assault, OF a
commanding hill on the southern bank
Of the Somme which gives them con-
troll not only OF that entire section
lying in the bend of the river. but
brings the streets and buildings OF
peronne within sight OF their artil-
lery.
The Germans tonight are reported
to be withdrawing hastily all the war
,stores and heavy guns which nad been
gathered at Peronne. with the French
in artillery control Of the town, II has
lost all value as a base for which II
served" the Germans for more than
twenty months.
Allies Are Confident.
French critics are confident that
another thrust will bring the troops
OF General f-och into the city.
The heights carried today is listed
on military maps as Hill No. 90 II is
located southeast OF Biaches. which
was taken ny storm yesterday. In a
further advance. the French also
claim to have recaptured the Maison-
ette farm and a small oopse TO the
,Iorth ward.
Apparently with the me object in
view the Germans launched three
Simultaneous attacks against the
.lench front before Charlecste in the
sosges Paris claims all the attacks
lave failed,
French Counter az yerdun.
Al Nerdun. after four days OF furi-
Gus Smelling by the Germans, appar-
entity IN preparation for a general at
tack, the French this afternoon open
ed a counter bonn havdment Of great
violence. An especially violent duel
OF the big guns is taking place IN The
important sectors OF t'roide Terre
Fumin. Fleury and Chattancourt
With clearing weather the aviation
arms Of both armies have resumed
daring operations
Berlin claims 1--WE allied asroplanes
have been destroyed within a day
while an equal number Of German
machines have been destroyed, &C.
cording 20 French and British re-
ports
During the day the French engaged
n heavy attacks against position
previously captured by them. but re-
taken in night counter movement Of
the Germans, Not only on the entire
front of attack south OF the Somn1e.
but also against the British north Of
the river, the Germans displayed more
activity than has marked their ef-
forts on any day since the opening
of the Franco British offensive.
Big German Success.
While the British tonight report an
advance In the region of Ov1laers and
Ia Bofsel and claim to have pene-
tr&ted into the strongly fortified Meter
woods, General Haigs report admits
that the Bots Dies Trones, a triangu-
lar shaped forest which the British
had taken only after several days OF
hard fighting has been lost
Berlin this morning reported the re-
capture OF the wood. but 1t was no,
admitted BY the British headquarters
sta6 uuetl late this evening The
Tsutons Won back the position after
they had been repulsed with heavy
Hoses ave times In succession. The
6nating continued throughout the
night ana wen into this morning.
The German counter strokes against
the French south OF the Sonzne were
delivered with great power and result
"a In the recapture OF Barieux. a vii
base which, marked tho most extsnded
roint OF the French advance on
Peronne.
Tonight the French war once Of
hcially reports progress by General
Foch's troops toward the recapture OF
this place. The French are battling
In the outskirts and among outlying
buildings OF the ruined hamlet The
French also have pushed eastward OF
Biaches carrying a redoubt where a
German force had managed to sus-
"A n itself. although surrounded for
more Than twenty-four hours
Apparently TO prevent German con-
centraton In Picardy the French have
struck in Champagne and report the
capture Of a strong line of trenches
west of Butte de Mesnil. Other at
lacks were delivered west Of Tahure.