The sun., 1916-08-16
SOMME BOLT NEAR
END, GERMANS SAY
Least Optimistic Expect Only
Month More Of the
Offensive.
SURE LINES WILL HOLD
Fighting Qualities Of British
and French ExtOllcd by
Kaiscr's Men.

BERLIN, via London, Aug. 1.-THE
Nors, Of the Anglo-Frcnch offensive on
,.hc somme is over, In the opinion Of
German officers on that front, although
II is conceded hat the efforts Of the
, allied troops TO pierce the German lines
have probably not ended.
This belief was expressed confidently
20 the Associated Press correspondent In
the course of n four day trip along the
iron, from "A point not far from Peronne
ir a so%uthcas,erly direction.
The least optimistic Of the officers ex-
pressed the belief that they might have
TO reckon with about one more month Of
the terrific fighting developed during the
offensive. The more optimistic think
that the offensive can already be said to
he over. All agreed that any appreci-
able future advance by the Allies was
out Of the question.
OppOnents' Bravery Praised.
An interesting feature OF nearly every
conversation with the German officers.
who ranged from subalterns on the
actual front to generals slightly in the
rear, was the universal mention Of the
huge amounts Of gas and incendiary
bombs which had been used and the
' dihhculties in combating this style of
fighting. All were united in ungrudging
and generous praise Of the fighting quail
ties Of their opponents.
The correspondents trip was 80
planned that II was possible to see q
large variety OF the defensive methods
employed, from huge mortars that
seemed 10 shoot increasingly to gas
masks, which must be available instantly
everywhere.
There were observation posts con-
etructed at every vantage point. captive
balloons. acroplane, and even carrier
pigeons. which were kept in the front
trenches against the possibility of the
destruction of all other means OF COM
munication.
. night battle which was viewed from
the lighting station commanded by the
Captain who acted as guide. II was
nearly midnight when the Captain led
the way from his quarters past a shell
riddled field to an observation point
built into The top Of an apple tree.
Explosions Shake the Earth.
From this post the whole front was
visible for a distance OF twelve to four
teen miles. The heavily clouded sky
was illuminated as by lightning by the
bursting shells from tho French gums a
few miles away n h answering IRE
Of the German batteries Of all calibres.
The earth fairly shook from the intens-
fly Of the mutual bombardmcnt and
speech was difficult because Of the steady
and almost deafcning rumble and crash
~ the explosions. The Captain laugh
insly declared that he enjoyed his pres
ent life in the open far better than his
previous existence in Berlin.
Like all reglmental and corps com
manders who were interviewed. the Cap
tain spoke admiringly OF the remarkable
bravery Of his English and French OPP
ponents. The English 40 centimeter
guns are said to he particularly de-
struc,ive, and the Germans estimate that
they are opposed on this front by about
1000 cannon OF all sizes.
The spirits Of the German soldier do
not seem in the least depressed by the
offensive and the officers say that the
men are hard to hold In hand after
a long artillery bombardment. and out
OF relief at Its cessation unnecessarily
expose themselves In infantry actions.
which
1.-THE despatch ends abruptly at this
point. apparently having been cut short
~ the censor.l