Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-31
French and British Charge
North of SOmme in First
Real Hot Wave of Summer
BY Associated Press

With the British Army in the Field,
July 30, via London, July 31.-French
and British soldiers made to-day's at
tack in sweltering midsummer heat.
The first real hot wave of the season
struck northern France last night, and
this morning British and French in
fantry co-operated in an action north
of the Somme, in front of Guillemont
and Maurepas.
For the last few days the one word
on everybody's tongue has been visi-
bility, which has come into universal
use since Admiral Jellicoe's first fleet
dispatch. Formerly artillerymen spoke
of good or bad light. Persistent bad
light or low visibility which did not
permit the gunners to register their
targets, had delayed an important in
fantry action. Yesterday the light be-
came better as the heat grew tropic
and the offensive operations were re-
newed.
Every day the Germans have been
increasing the number of guns and
men in the Guillemont sector, which is
among the last portions of high ground
they hold. By prisoners taken ten
German battalions, or 10000 men,
have been identified on front of 1000
yards where the Germans are still in
their old second line Notifications with
maze trenches and deep dugouts built
long ago and strengthened since the
offensive began. The Germans appear
to regard this sector of critical impor-
tance since the British broke the sec
ond line on the adjoining front for a
length of two miles on July Ia.
Take Railroad Station
Part of the British attack struck
from the bloody Trones wood and the
other part on the flank while the Ger
mans tried to man machine guns as
usual after a British bombardment
The Germans resisted the British bit
terly fighting under the boiling sun
as If every inch of ground was pre-
cious.
The British got possession of the
railroad station which they had reach
ed in a previous attack and this time
according to last reports, was still
holding it. Some of the attackers got
into Guillemont and reached the
church where the Germans, swarming
in dugouts, outnumbered the advance
party which fought against their foe
on all sides. 1t was one of these
hand-to-hand and hide-and- seek con-
fiicts in the village ruins of indescrib-
able ferocity. The British had to re-
tire from the edge of Guillemont, but
made good a considerable advance
southwark on the flank of the town
where, through the hot night, fighting
continued to maintain their gain.
Carnage Fearful
Perspiration made white water
courses in the dust of the mems faces
to-day and their eyes looked out
through masks so thick that their
faces seemed to be covered with some
kind of armor. Motor trucks passe
like phantoms in thick clouds of the
road. Gunners, stripped to their skin,
kept on serving their guns at top
speed. Breathing came hard in the
mixture of dust and shell smoke.
Soldiers who reached Guillemont
speak Of the fearful carnage among
the Germans from the British gun fire,
owing to the masses of Germans con-
centrated under the British lombard
ment before the infantry attack. They
said they could hear the means of the
German wounded for water above the
bombing and rifle and machine gun
fire. With the news of the shooting of
Captain Fryatt fresh in their minds
the British went into the charge in a
fury, swearing they would avenge his
death.