Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-07-19
GERMANS NOW
ON OFFENSIVE
@0 II
Striking Heavy Blow at
British Right Wings
at Present
TRY TO DISLODGE HAIG
British in Their Methodical Advances
on Both Sides of Highway Menace
Important Junction

London, July 19-Several German
regiments struck heavy blow at
the British right wing north of the
Somme last night in a determined
effort to dislodge Gen. Haig's troops
from their positions on the Bapaume-
Bray highway.
The attack was preceded by
storm of gas bombs and lachrymatory
shells. The Germans drove forward
in an effort to batter in the British
line and insert wedge at the point
where British and French lines unite.
Dispatches from headquarters en-
phaszed the violence of the German
assault. but thus far have carried no
report on the outcome, Indicating
that the battle continued through
out the night.
On the British left wing, the meth
odical advances made on both sides
of the Bapaume-Albert highway have
menaccd the German hold on the vii
lage of Pozieres an important high
way junction and the local objective
Of the British attack.
By pushing their lines forward on
both sides of the highway, the Brit
ish have thrown the town itself into
Ia deep pocket, while artillery is
steadily reducing Che German works
TO ruins.
At the same time British gunners
have laid a steady fire across the
Thicpval road. one of the
two highways over which the Ger
mans in the Thiepval salient draw
their supplies, rendering that line
useless.
Some interest is being displayed
here in reports of increased artillery
activity on the allied front north OF
Saloniki. Rome dispatches recently
forecast the beginning Of an Anglo
French offensive in the Balkans be-
fore the middle of August.
London, July ia furious bat
tie was raging last night on a front
of more than two miles around the
ruined village of Longueval and in
the shell-swcpt Dclville wood, north
of the Somme. The Germans were )
striking heavy blows at the new
British front in an effort to recap
ture the village and forest.
The first German attack was
launched just as night was falling
after day Of wind and rain. The
thick weather had interfered serious
ly with the British artillery and had
cloakcd the German preparations
Late in the afternoon the heavy
guns posted OH the German lines
east of Longueval opened fire on the
British lines. High explosive shells
rained down on the trenches, while
shells blinded the men who held them.
In addition, the WIND carrying to-
ward the British trenches. the Ger
mans looscd great clouds OF noX-
ious gas, and then, under cover Of
the clouds, advanced TO the attack.
Hand-to- hand fighting developed
early all along the front of attack
The commandcr-in-cl -cltief's earlier
report announced gain Of consider
able proportions, won during an at
tack Monday night. In this attack
the British were able to advance on
front of two-thirds Of a mile north
Of Oyillcrs, Ertving the Germans
from several strongly defended po-
sitions and capturing prisoners and
machine guns.
The region Immediately contigu-
Gus to Ovillers has seen during tho
last few days some Of the hardest
fighting of the Picardy offensive. 1t
has resulted in the British gaining
control of the long stretch Of the Al
bert-Bapaume highroad. The village
of Ovillers itself was captured only
after two pitched battles which last
ed two weeks. The second and de-
cisive struggle began on July Z. The
town was defended by two regiments
Of the crack Prussian Guard. Only
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