Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-31

Il
announced this afternoon.
Paris. July 31-North of the Somme
Yesterday afternoon and last night the
Germans redOubled their counter at
tacks between HemWOOd and MOnaCu
farm. SAYS the official statement issued
this afternoon by the French war de
partment The struggle was especially
severe around MOnacu farm where the
Germans got a footing for moment
but were Immediately driven back
Deny British Gain
Berlin, July 81, Cvia London, 3 p. M
-Anglo-French troops in their attack
Sunday against the German positions
in the region of the river Somme did
not gain foot Of ground, according to
the German army headquarters staff in
its statement today.
Fight in Great Heat.
With the British Army in the Field,
July so (via London, July 81, 4:45 a
ml-French and British soldiers made
today's attack in sweltering mld-sum-
mer heat The first real hot wave OF
the season struck northern France
last night and this morning British
and French infantry cOoperated IN an
acton north of the SOmme IN front or
Guillenont and Maurepas.
For the last few days the one word
on everybody's tongue has been Ylsl-
bility, which has come into universal
use since Admiral Jellico's first feet
dispatch
Formerly artillerynen spoke of good
and bad light Persistent bad light or
low visibility, which did not permit
the gunners to register their targets,
had delayed any important infantry
action Yesterday the light became
better as the heat grew tropic and Of
fensive operations were renewed
Germans Increase Numbers.
Every day the Germans have been
increasing the number Of guns and
men in the GuiIlemOnt sector, when Is
among the last portions Of high ground
they hold. BY prisoners taken 10 Ger
man battalions, or 10000 men, nave
been identified on a front OF 1000
yards, where the Germans are suIl IN
their old second line Notifications.
The Germans appear to regard this
sector Of critical Importance, since the
British broke the second line on the
adjoining front of two miles on July
Il.
Capture Railroad Station.
The British got possession of the
railroad station, which they had reach
ed in a previous attack. Some OF the
attackers got into Guillemont and
reached the church, where the Ger
mans, swarming in dugouts, outhuln-
bered the advance party which fought
against their foe on all sides. 1t was
one Of those handto-hand and hide
and-seek conflicts in the village runs
Of indescribable ferocity. The Brit
ish had to retire from the edge or
Guillemont, but made a considerable
advance southwark on the flank OF the
town where, through the hot night
fighting continued to maintain theif
gain.
Teutons Suffer Big Losses
Perspiration made white water
courses in the dust of the mems faces
and their eyes looked out through
masks so thick that their faces seem
ed covered with some kind of armor.
Motor trucks passed like phantoms in
thick clouds on the road. Gunners,
stripped to the skin, kept on serving
their guns at top speed.
Soldiers who reached GufIlemont
speak of the fearful carnage among
the Germans from the British gun fire,
owing TO the masses Of Germans con-
centrated under the British lombard
ment before the infantry attacks.
With the news of the shooting OF
Captain F'ryatt fresh in their minds,
the British went into the charge in a
Jury, swearing they would avenge his
murder
At Hem wood all the German as
saults were repulsed by French coun-
Ter attacks. French batteries on the
left bank OF the Somme, the statement
continues, enfiladed the German troops, |
INJECTING great loss
"On the left bank of the Meuse, in
the Verdun sector. a German attack
on the northeast side of Hill BOA failed. !
On the right bank of the Mouse the |
French progressed slightly in the reg |
1on southwest of F'leury-