Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-01
Hold 90-MiIe Front.

VI LIldI WHeTe lie the
battle fields of Arras, Loos. Nueve
Chappelle, Ypres and Dixmude.
Hold 90 Mile Front.
During the early stages of the battle
of Verdun when the French were COM
PEELED to bring up large reserves to
meet the German drive, the British
took over long section of French
trenches and now hold about ninety
miles of the western front. What re-
mains of the Belgian army under COM
mand of King Albert, is in the trenches
from the North sea to a point near
Lizerne, about six miles northeast Of
Ypres- The British army under Gen
eral Sir Douglas Haig holds the line
from the junction with the Belgians
as far as the Somme.
British headquarters In France, July
1.-The British troops already have
occupied the German front line and
taken many prisoners. The terrific
bombardment which preceded the at
| tack lasted about an hour and a half
1t is too early as yet to give any but
the bareSt particulars of the fighting
which is developing in intensity. The
British casualties have so far been
comparatively light, according to Off
cial report.
The artillery bombardment of the
morning with a degree of fury and
number of guns which were UMPIRE
cedented in the region of Albert and
the Somme, with the French cooperat-
ing to the south.
At 1880 o'clock, through clouds of
smoke and dust which hung over the
whole field as far as the eye could
see, the infantry sprang from the
trenches for an assault over front of
20 miles. Already it has gained pos
session of the first line trenches and
the advance is continuing.
The new British trench mortars,
which fire 35 shots a minute, played
a great part, cutting wire entangle-
ments and destroying trenches.
Large numbers of prisoners have
been taken.
Some of the prisoners say the Brit
ish curtains of fire prevented them
from getting food for the last five days
Attack As If On Parade.
A British staff officer who wit
messed the advance at the junction OF
the French and British lines said the
attack was launched as though the
men were on parade.
simultaneously with the launching
of the British offensive, French in
fantry advanced to the attack. This
movement of French troops was in
augurated over a section of the French
line adjoining the junction with the
British front.
A raid by Australian and New Iea-
land troops on the German lines last
night resulted in the killing OF about
so German soldiers. including two Off
GERS. The British casualties were
slight.
The Germans made an ineffective
raid on British trenches west OF
Lille road after heavy bombardment.
On Wednesday night the British
made three raids in the neighborhood
of Messines. The kings Shropshire
light infantry made an expedition into
the German lines and returned with a
dozen prisoners.
BEGINNING of Great Offensive.
The tremendous offensive launched
by the British army is the elimination
of a five-day bombardment, which, in
the amount of ammunition expended
and in the territory involved, exceeds
ANYTHING of the kind that has been
previously known in the world war.
For some weeks reports have been
current in England and France that
the big push" OF the British was
about TO commence. 1t was stated
that England had 100000 men, fUliy
equipped and trained.
The menace of the British attack
was fully appreciated in Germany, ac-
cording TO newspaper comments from
Berlin and utmost confidence was eX-
pressed in the ability Of the Germans
to meet the attack.
The allies are now on the offensive
in practically every field. The British
assault comes on the heels of the
great successes won by the Russians
in Galicia and Bukowina which have
resulted in completely driving thu
Austrians from Bukowina and are still
continuing. On the Italian front the
central powers have also met with Sc