New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-27
Germ ans, Trapped.
Fight Fiercely-Dead
Fill Streets.
5000 PRISONERS
FALL TO VICTORS
Two Other Villages Won
from Teutons - Drive
Passes Bethune Road.
By Cable 70 The Tribune }

London, Sept. 2o.-CompleS ana
Thiepval fell before the Allied on
slaught to-day. These strongholds
of the German line north Of the
Somme had resisted every attack for
the last month. But in the new
sweep that has carried the Entente
forces beyond the enemy first sys-
TENS of defence they we're forced to
yield.
Combles, the key to the Bapsume-
Peronne line, was won in a joint ac-
tack. While the British moved into
the town from the north, Storming
the last of the battered defence, the
French advanced from the south.
Battle in Streets.
4 day of furious combat followed.
In this town, a maze Of wire en-
tangements and powerful entrench-
ments, the trapped Germans fought
TO the bitter end. The fighting ragged
in every house and surged through
the streets. Finally the Tcutons
gave in. but only after the town had
been filled with German dead
Thiepvsl, a bastion Of the front
lying south Of Bapaume, was carried
by Haig's troops this afternoon in a
swift thrust that swept them over
high ridge beyond and int, the
strongly fortified Zollcrn redoubt TO
the east
Two other villages were seized IN
to-day's attack. Guedecourt vas
taken by the British and FregicoGrt
by the French. These lay in the
path Of the Allied drive eastward,
which purposes to force a wedge be-
tween Bapaume and flank the Ger
man positions on the Bapaurls
plateau.
Csptur. Vast supplies.
I'm tho renewed offensive the Allied
troopf have taken more than 5000
prisoners \ vast store of supplies
ana ammunition, which the Germans
had not time 20 withdraw, vas capt
ured IN underground passages m
Combles
Thus the Allied strokes are sgai1
hsr,nerine east and north. The csrt-
ure Of Combles opens the nay for
further advance over The nations
highway from Peronne 20 Bapsun-,
while the seizure Of Thiepysl clears
the path for a British blow " the
albert Bapaumo road. in a direct push
northvard.
The drive for Bspaumc nov prob
ably will take on tuo phases Tho
first will be thrust eastward, an at
tempt 70 turn the German positions.
The second will be a thrust northuard.
Between these, the Germans would be
squeezed out, just as they were
squeezed out Of other villages in the
ticardy offensive.
Advance Nov Easier.
In the move eastward The French
made additional progress to-day. Ry
the capture Of Fregicourt and an ad-
vance to the Bois 81. Vaast, two mile
east Of Combles, they are row well
ever the national highway, and II has
become correspondingly easier for
them 20 forge forward.
Further south, Mont 81. Quentin il
seriously threatened by Foeh's ad-
vance. The seizure OF positions east
Of the Bethune road makes it possible
for the French TO flank the German
positions at this height. which is the
key TO Peronne. Both Bapaume and
Peronne sre now almost within the
Allied grasp.
Prior TO the loss Of Combles, the e.
feet OF the victories Of the French and
British armies, in the capture OF i'm
portant strategic points on the Prev
Gus day. was reflected in the Official
communication issued By the German
War Office.
After describing briefly the great
artillery bombsrdmsnt OF the Entente
Allies, lasting four days. and the a..
tack between the Ancrc and the Somme.
it admits that "the conquest Of the
villages on the line Of Guedeeours
must be recognized" and adds. but
before all We must think Of our heroic
troops. who faced the united Anglo
French principal forces and the massca