The sun., 1916-09-16
OFFICIAL REPORTS
OF WAR OPERATIONS
London Tells Of Big Gains in
Great Drive on SOmmr.
Villages Falling.

PARIS. Sept. I6.-The communicated
issued by the war once tonight says
North Of the Somme We accom-
plished an advance north of lie Prlez
Farm, where we TOOK a system OF
trenches to u depth Of 500 meters.
This advance. in conjunction with
the British operations. marks the be-
ginning Of the encircllng Of Comhles.
There was some lively fighting to-
day east Of the Bethune road and
north OF Boucha vcsncs during which
We enlarged Our positions.
South OF the Somme two attacks.
begun at =. N. in the sector NJ
Deniecourt- Berry. brough; us consid-
cradle gains. East OF Deniecourt a
trench strongly held BY the enemy and
n small wood were captured after II
lively fight.
Northeast OF Berry three trenches
were successfully conquered by us.
We took 200 prisoners and ten ma
chine. guns. The latest advices say
that the ground won this afternoon
Is covered with German
On the remainder OF the front the
day was relatively calm except In
the sectors OF Thiaumont. Fleury and
Naux-Chapitre. where the artillery
duel continues sharply.
The day statement follows
North of the Somne at the close OF
Yesterday evening our troops. N AN
attack carried out with dash. took by
assault a group OF German trenches
south ~ Rancourt II pushed for
ward parties to the edge Of the vii
lae". In the night the Germans re-
newed their attack In the region east
of Cleary. All their efforts were de-
fcated with ~sanguinary losses. Es-
pecially in an attack made near the
southern extremity OF Hin T6 the
enemy sustained heavy losses.
South Of the Somme We easily re-
pulsed a grenade attack northeast Of
Berny-en-Santerre.
Between the Disc and the Aisne n
surprise attack was delivered against
the enemy's trenches in the region of
Autreches. enabling us to iniict losses
on the Germans and AXE some prison.
crs.
On the eft bank OF the Vardar.
British troops delivered a yiolen, at
tack against the Bulgarians. who were
supported by c~ontingents Of German
Infantry. This terminated to the adj
vantage Of the British. Makukovo
was taken by assault. as we'll as two
points north of this locality. where
the British established themselves
solidly, one nundrcd prisoners and
bou ten machine guns were u
by them.
To tn. right 81 the Nardar the
French troop took eremv trenches
along front Of 1000 meters 70 n
depth ~ about, 500 meters
East OF the Germ the S.rhians ror-
tinue To adNanC" toward N-trenik and
kaj"ckdlau, west Of LAX. Ostrovo.
The battle was under way for several
days between the Serbian army and
impoitan, Bulgarian forces. II re.
suited N a very brilliant success for
our allies. 'iornizevo was carried at
the point NJ the hayonet. as well az
the greater portion o. MalkanidZe
crest.
Serbian cavalry. pursuing the Bull
garians AS they retired in disorder.
captured the village of Eksisu. thus
compelling the adyersaries to maxi a
precip!tate retreat OF more than l5
klometers % 3-lo miles,. During
th.s" actions the Serhlans caytured
twenty-five cannon and took u great
number Of prisoners. the number OF
which has no vet been aScert,Ired
On our ler wing Franco-Russian
forces completely cleared out Bull
alr'an con.tadj" bands. which had
advanced az far as koyani. from the
entire region south OF Lake OS,rovo
for a dis'anc" of 60 ki'oine,crs