Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-02
BRITONS TAKE 20
MILES OF TRENCHES
General Offensive is Launched
Against German Line North
of River Somme.
PENETRATE FIVE MILES

British Headquarters in France,
July l.-Reports received from the
front up to 1890, seven hours after
the combined French and British Of
fensive was launched, showed that
the allies had captured the towns Of
La Boiselle, Serre Montauban, Curlu
and Faviere Woods. The main first
line trenches over the entire front un-
der attack are reported to have been
stormed, and at various points the
fighting has reached the main second
line.
These reports show that the French
and British at the points of their
furthest advances have broken
through distance OF more than five
miles beyond the first German
trenches Montauban is five and a
half miles east of the old British
front and Curlu Wood is six miles
east-southeast of Albert.
The British are endeavoring to sur
round Thiepval, and at-other points
an intense struggle is under way for
towns and villages. Reports from
the front indicate that the important
German position at Fricourt may be
cut off.
General Attack Launched.
After weeks of intense lombard
ment with guns of every caliher, fir
ing : million shells daily, the British,
early today, launched general often
sive against the German line along a
front Of twenty miles, north of the
river Somme. They succeeded in
taking the German front line trenches
and capturing many men.
The French, on the British right,
co-operated in the attack. When the
last despatch, thus far received, left
British headquarters, the fighting was
still progressing, and further sue
cesses, it was said, were being re-
corded.
The front selected for the British
offensive was decided upon many
weeks ago and the bombardment Of
the rest of the line as we'll as the fire.
quent raids which procured for Brit
ish headquarters important informa-
tion as to the disposition of the Ger
mans, was designed to keep the Ger
man generals uncertain as to the point
at which they would be called upon to
meet the brunt Of the attack.
Bombardment Is Intense.
This is the first time since the out
break of the war that the intention
of an army to undertake an offensive
has been SO we'll advertised. A week
ago, when the German attacks against
Verdun began to make further head
way and it was feared the army Of
the crown prince was getting within
distance of Verdun which was dam
gerous for the allies, the British guns
began to speak. Since then, except
for the hours when British infantry
men were raiding German trenches,
continual bombardment has been
maintained.
Batteries which now are innumer-
able, took turns at smashing the Ger
man defenses, destroying communica-
ton trenches and blowing up am
munition depots. New trench mortars,
particularly destructive, tore away
wire entangelements, broke down
parapets and generally opened the
way for men with rifles and bayonets.
Big guns of fifteen inches and other
large calibers prevented the Germans
from bringing up supports, wrecking
everything within range.
Two Towns DESTROYED.
The artillery fire was particularly
intense on stretch OF the front
north of the Somme and earlier dis
patches told of the destruction of the
towns of Thiepval and Beaucourt,
where the Germans had concentrated
ammunition. Early this morning
more guns were brought into action
on this twenty-mile sector and for
an hour and half the Germans were
subjected to bomhardment which is
described as the hercest experienced
in this war of heavy artillery.