New-York tribune., 1916-07-26

Headquarters Of the German Armies
on the Somme, July "a (by courier to
Berlin. July 25).-From grand head
quarters, with vivid impressions OF
sermon delivered by a military chap
lain before the Emperor and a congre-
CATION of soldiers fresh in mind, cor
respondent returned to-day to the I'M
mediate front, where the great Allied
offensive again fckered up in series
OF desperate British attacks on the
German lines northwest of Peronne'
These barely moved, although the Brit
ish attacked in force with eleven divi-
sions, including two absolutely fresh
ones, on the comparatively narrow
front between Guillemont and Thiepval.
The French share of the offensive
was limited to a couple OF vicious
stabs of merely local extent near
Estrees, southwest OF Peronne, and
which were easily repulsed.
Think Allied Drive Halted.
The present line, extending from
Thepyal to Soyecourt, but bulging
eastward toward Peronne, may be re-
gardcd, according to the firm convie-
tion of the headquarters staff. as the
high-water mark of the Allied advance
They base this judgment on the neglI'
gible result of the fighting in the last
fortnight, and they contend that 1t Is
TO longer question OF whether the
British and French will be able to ex-
tend their gains, but whether they Will
be able to hold what they have against
the German counter pressure.
The correspondent returned to the
front with the expectation OF witness
ing a manifestation of this counte.
pressure against a certain sector, bu'
unfavorable weather conditions WIN
low-hanging clouds ana mist hiding the
field Of operations and preventing ar
tillery observation, deferred the new
struggle for the coveted stretches oi
fertile Picardy.
General quiet before the storm pre-
vailed along the section OF the front
visited the activity Of the artillery ne,
ing scarcely greater than the normal
scale, where no particular operations
are in progress, and infantry and ma
chine gun fire being heard only oeca-
sionally. The troops yisited-the regi-
ments coming directly from the
trenches. as we'll as those about to
move into the forward lines were
found ready, even eager to renew IN =
struggle. -
The gaps in the units have been
filed with fresh men, the worn out
cannon-for guns as well as men reach
the limits Of endurance IN such pro-
longed artillery combst-have been
replaced from reserve stocks, mum !
tions supplies have been replenlshed'
and everything is in readiness Tor the
new phase Of the operations.
Coming as an interlude IN this perlod
of the war the church service at grand
headquarters, which was attended by
the Emperor, his suite and the mgr
officers constituting the brain ana
nerve centre of the army, and, as ar
evidence Of the solidarity OF the Ger
man military forces, by two companies
of grizzled landsturm men, left an IN
delible impression on the mind
Prayer Is for Peace.
The topic Of the sermon by the En-
peror's military chaplain, DR.. Goens,
and Of the impressive prayer was peace
not the peace Of resignation or sub
mission, but peace after victory, to be
won by the Continuance of the strug-
gle until Germany's enemies are con-
quered and the security Of the empire
is assured"
Dr. Goenss text was taken from the
parable OF the merchant in the thir-
teenth chapter Of ST. Matthew who
sought pearl Of great price. This
pearl for the German nation was. not
the conquest Of territory or the subiu-
CATION Of other peoples, but perma
nent and lasting peace which would
protect German hcarths and hresides
and permit the people 10 return to
their vocations. He closed with fer
vent prayer that this peace might soon
be secured and that the long war
should cease.
Viewpoints Of Privates.
A good source of information con-
cerning the tide Of battle is converse