New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-06
Carry Strategic Po-
sitions North OF
SOmme.
BATTLE RACES
ON SO-MlLE FRONT
British Gains Help Make
Capture of Combles
Likely.
fp.c,,i.ousn nbur, J

r,ors than thirty miles the Picardy
bsttle RACES without pause. The
Allied forces still press back the Ger
r-ans the French winning ground
along the whole line with brilliant
assaults and the British forging
ahead more slowly.
Foch's troops made notable prog
,sss to-day north Of the Somme'
where they carried the village OF
ommiecourt. directly west of Mont
s., Quentin; the Hospital FORM
suthesst Of Combles; Rainnette
wood and part Of Marrieres wood
lying between.
Meanwhile, south of the Somme
ttey hurled back repeated counter
attacks. moving in mass formation
and succeeded in wrestling another
line Of trenches from the enemy.
Tcch. By these alternate blows, has
slned first north Of the Somme and
then south. driving back the Teuton
wherever he has attacked.
French Close In on Height.
The French gains to-day were won
T. the msrshy ground between Clery
and Mont St. Quentin, through which
runs the Tortille River. They
brought Foch's line 10 point less
tran two miles from that strong
height, from which the Germans
tcv. poured an enflading fire against
The French line, south Of the Somme'
Mont St. Quentin and Combles,
further north. are the strongest bas-
tons Of the German line protecting
Bapsgns and Peronne, the first oo-
jse,iyss Of the Allied offensive. The
threat TO both increases.
Conbles especially is in a precari-
ogs position. While N. French pushed
forward to-day east Of lie Forest
,as.ng the hospital farm, and thus
rsihing nearly a mile east Of Com
hss, TIE British seized nearly all OF
Lsrs Wood. a half mile from the
issn. IN addition. they took all OF
isisnont farm, a short distance south,
I'd reached the outskirts Of Ginchyr
s.arc.ng Combies on the north.
Combles Between Two Thrusts.
Conbles thus is caught between two
rrgs,s. For the first time since the
>-ms offensive began the British and
h'leh have united for an attack on
s'' position Combles is menaced both
b ne British thrust southwest and
ne french thrust northeast. Far out
,'assd from the south. it cannot long
isls out.
Sines the beginning Of the renewed
'''rsiys On September 3 the French
rave captured $3.50 prisoners. Tn.
S''i''h esptiyes bring the total 70 more
"a 5000. The French, moreover
~. taken thirty-six guns, indicating
qlicknefs % the strokes. This
s''rans evidently were forced to re.
"a, % hastily that they had no tims
vsIhcFaw their heavy artillery.
q. ..m nard fighting must come before
hiNss can score decisive success
helr position now is exceedingly
80 sne likely % bring an early tri.
s' The latest Augio-French vic
49,. are sstuming large proportions
a. uas is gtill running strongly ~
''" oi the Entente forces.
Push Gaining at Will.
.h,sts the joint attack IL checked be
- iehg Or baked by weather condi.
g.. me Cernans must soon Withdraw
isfge part Of France or see THEN
u'tsn. The continued progress oi
4, S.snhiye makes that clearer ever
ne push" Is denting the Ger.
Ahs Wherever IL 10 applied.
80 OF the best German regiments
r,..hr the Prutsisn Guards, are
s,..,'hlT and gsllsntly resisting The
sqFanee. Despite the quaiitJ
49,. sn.my and the 5eluge Of rain
An u fsst converting the Picardy
s.,W INTO lakes, Hsig's troops have
a.. ne whole German second line oi
No. from a point beyond Poziersi
II ihlepysrs Pail Imminent.
~, h' northern front the Tbiepynl
s,.h' Nhieh has witbgiOod the heav.
o." NE British assaults, will be
H., sh<nsDie a. soon - NOIquei
st,.,n captured. even though ~ i'
k,w.'Ne ~ heavy German gunt ~
isl.srhamei Progress ip The
"s' ,setor should then be rapid
"'ms'd IN page ., column o