The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-10-20
CORPSES PILED UP
ALONG THE SOMME
SAY ALLIES MEET DEFEAT
Report Declares the Tragedy of
the SOmme Seems Nearer
a Climax.

! climax.
/ Berlin, Oct. II (By Sayville. )
Detailed reports about recent fight
ing on the Somme front show dis
,tinctly that the attacks between Oc-
tober and IS are to be reckoned
on among the greatest actions OF
THE whole Somme BATTLE" says the
Overseas News Agency. The OBJ
jective of the great French and Brit
ish efforts were Bapaume and Pc
attacks of violence were directed
against the front from Courcelette to
st. Pierre Vaast wood north of the
Somme and between Frenes and
Mazancourt and against Chaulnes
south of the river. OF these engage
ments those north OF the Somme
were most severe.
ION October 9. 10 and IL the
main centers OF combat were north
of Thiepval. north of Courcellette.
near Sailly-Saillesil and the vicinity
of the st. Pierre Vaast wood On
October II great and well CO.
ordinated attack was launched over
the whole front from Courcelette to
Bouchavesnes.
Terrific Fire.
speaking OF the attack on Octo-
Der IL the news agency says:
THE defenders of the Somme
front had thought it impossible that
the violence of the artillery fire in
the great attack early in October
could be exceeded, but it was sur
passed In spite of the terrific hail
of iron the British and French did
not succeed in reducing the Ger
man positions to such an extent that
they could be stormed. French and
British infantry in compact waves
charged 2 German positions. but
were speedily brought to stand
still by the German curtain of fire.
notwithstanding their heavy los
ses they attempted one attack after
another. Near Sailly-Saillisel six
charges were made. Each failed
completely with the heaviest losses
for the enemy. German infantry
left their shelters, and standing in
the open shot down the enemy col
umns with rifles and machine guns. 4"
"SimpIy Shocking"
The effect of the German fire on
the French and British, the news
agency says, was simply shocking. "
The account continues:
'The Germans had not lost their
days of the heaviest shelling. lack OF
sleep and the impossibility OF OBJ
tanning sufficient food on account OF
the interruption to communications.
The enemy displayed remarkable ten
acity, but more remarkable was the
bravery of the Germans, who not
only had to defend positions against
numbers. but were called on
to make counter attacks and eXpel
the enemy wherever he succeeded in
gaining a foothold in the German
line.
Whole columns OF French and
British were literally moved down
by the German fire, the news agency
says. and in places where the fight
ing was fiercest, especially before ST.
Pierre-Vaast wood, barricades OF
corpses were piled up. The ac-
count continues:
"The enemy's attacks abated
on October 13. He con-
cehtrated his efforts against Sally
Saillisel and st. Pierre-Vaast wood
as well as the district east of Bou-
chavesness.
Meant to Breach Decisions.
There is no possible doubt the
enemy tried to reach decision with
this important effort. Especially on
October IL he planned to break
through on the largest scale. All
prisoners declare that the losses of
the enemy, especially those OF the
British, reached an amount hereto
fore unknown. Reports OF German
troops fully confirm this. Prison
ers state French infantry companies
now number hardly fifty men. The
commander in order to stimulate the
courage of the troops resorted to al
coholic drinks freely among them
it was said. The fact shows better
than anything else the morale OF the