Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-07-06
Drive South of Somme
Brings Them to Towns
Outskirts
KAISER IN COMMAND
British Army Making Steady Progress
Between Ancre and Somme-Ger-
mans Preparing

London, July 6.-The Kaiser i
reported to have arrived on the Som
me front accompanied by member
of his general staff, who will direc
the defense of the German lines II
the great allied offensive.
An Amsterdam dispatch today re-
ported the Kaisers arrival and salo
he had established headquarters near
the front and not far from Cambria
md opposite the Britiah 'front.'
Iaris. july 6--The French have
carried bs assault the second Ger
man lines on front of two kiio-
metres (about one and quarter
milesD from the Clery-Maricourt
road to the River Somme. They have
also captured the village Hem in the
same district, according to the Off
cal statement issued by the French
War Office last night.
The French have captured all the
German second positions south of
the Somme on a front of about 10
kilometres. They have also COM
pleted the occupation of the village
of Estrees, where 200 Germans sur
rendered.
The full force of the French Of
fensive is again being eXerted both
north and south of the Somme, but
principally southwark. In this d.
rection the French are now in the
outskirts of Poronne, the great rail"
way centre, which is their first OBJ
; jective in their effort to cut the Ger
man communications.
Sermont Farm, taken by the French
is only two miles from Peronne and
adioins its suburban houses. The
Importance which the Germans AZ,
tach to this point IS shown in their
fierce counter attacks Tuesday night
when they rushed the French lines
back to the village of BelIoy-en San
terre, which they momentarily held.
This village lies between Assevei-
\ lers and Estrees, both held by the
French, so that the German rush tenn
porarily made dent in the French
advance. This dent was quickly
, Strengthened out when fierce hand to
hand fighting placed the town again
in French hands.
The number of German prisoners
taken is now close to 10000, while
the extent of the munitions captured
is shown in the fact that GO guns
were taken by single army corps.
Meantime the movement north Of the
Somme IS necessarily retarded In or
der that the French left wing may
act simultaneously with the British
right wing.
i, The British have been facing ar
extremely heavy resistance and large
German reinforcements were hurried
forward all day Tuesday by the
Cologne Cambrai Railway, which runs
to the very centre Of the German
front attacked by the British. The
stubborn resistance all along this
front has prevented the British from
keeping pace with the French ad,
vance to the south.
} The tenacity with which the Ger
mans are holding to their positions II
the face of the British attack, par
ticularly around Da Boisselle, while
the French menace of Peronne j:
comparatively neglected. leads to thu
belief of the military authorities thai
the Germans are chiefly concerned il
breaking the offensive even at tn
sacrifice of some ground to the south
The French have now, in SOM
places pushed through the third ant
last line of the German defenses a
they existed before the attack began
The Germans are hastily construct
ing new line. but are manifest,
unable to make it as strong as tn
three lines perfected after 90 months
labor.
London, July 6-The Reuter- CORES
pondent under date of July send
the following from the Press Camr
u British Army in France:
J ''While the battle of the Somm
. has already assumed the proportion