Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23
THE BAPAUME SALIENT.

THE BAPAUME SALIENT.
First as to the topography When the
western warfare settled down into
trench fighting there was between
Arras and Noyon a stretch OF front
marked by one very we'll defined salient
or bulge. Possessing Bapaume, where
a number of roads center, the Germans
had been able to get west in wide
semicircIe north of the Somme, west
of Bapaume and east of Arras and Al
bert. to which the French just managed
to cling. The French were thus sew
eral miles further east than the Ger
mans at the extreme point Of the
Bapaume salient. IS the little sketch
map indicates
As il stood this salient was not par
ticularly dangerous to the Germans.
If the French or British could break
the German line north or south or IL,
then and only then. would the Germans
in the salient be exposed to any real
danger.
We do not know why the French and
British chose to attack at this point;
probably because their Investigations
disclosed the fact that the main Ger
man concentration was further north.
French and British fronts join. and
therefore only at this point could there
be joint operation.
Bombardment Before Attack.
ALL through the closing days of June
the British and the French bombarded
the German line from the sea to the
Argonne This is the usual prelude to
an attack, and it was so understood.
but there was no indication as to the
exact point to be attacked. Apparently
the Germans were satisfied that YER
dun had exhausted the French. because
they made insufficient preparations to
meet any French attack.
Finally. July l, the attack began. At
its inception the drive was on a front
of about fifteen miles 1t began on the
north, just above Albert, where the
on the accompanying big map the viii
1age of Hamel marks the northern
boundary. On the south it stopped just
short of the town of Chaulnes, which
was and remains in German hands
The French front ran from before
Chaulnes due north across the big bend
of the Somme west of Frise. which the
French had lost a few months before,
and about to the town of Marfcourt.
The British front continued the line
French Gains Greatest.
Whether because it was better organ
lied, better supported by artillery or
less bitterly opposed. the French attack
was Immediately more effective With
very little delay the French pushed
east, north and south of the river until
they had reached Hem on the north and
taken Biaches, with Hill 81, Just above
It, on the south side. They now looked
down into Peronne, across the river and
about mile distant. South Of Biaches
their line now ran diagonally back east
Of Estrees. until it reached the old
trench line north of Chaulnes.
The French had then driven a wedge.
eight miles wide at its base, the old
trench line. two miles wide at its apex,
facing Peronne. and upward of six miles
deep. straight into the German lines
All this was finished by July 10, and the
French have been unable to make any
progress since.
The British got into difficulties a,
once Not until July IA were they able
to get east on line with the French
north of the Somme at Hardecourt by
taking Longueval Over nearly hall
their front from Hamel to Ovillers
only were they stopped. but they have
made no progress since.
Big Obstacles in Way.
A nest of little villages and woods
proved grave obstacles. Mametz. Con.
talmaison. Montauban and the two Ba.
zentins had been transformed into for.
tresses. and the fighting was precisel,
like that which the French encountered
north of Arras last year. The first days
of the British operation were exceed
ingly discouraging, as I remarked las,
week
But toward the end of the second
week. having made material progress
the British faced north and began &c
strike at the southern side Of the Ba.
paun1e salient The little sketch mar
indicates the towns attacked the direc.
ton of the attack and the meaning. SC
far as the Bapaume salient is concern.
ed. of the attack.
By last Sunday the British had
Longuevai, the two Bezentins: Monday
they took ovillers. which had held gu,
valiantly. and were in the outskirts OF
Pozieres. They were thus astride the
two main roads leading to Bapaum.
from the south; they were ADVANCING
toward Bapaume. fve miles away and
as they advanced they were narrowing
TINS that come to hand record another
haf-mile gain on this front
Meantime the French failed to ad.
vance and take Barleux or villers-Car.
bonnet 10 the south and thus threaten
the rear of the Germans hoIdjna
Chauines. The Germans. on their part
came west out of Peronne and at.
lacked the French in Biaches and south
OF Biaches. making a slight gain, bu,
really accomplishing nothing impor
tant
Results of Advance.
Such. in a very brief compass. is the
history of the Somme operation &c
date. AS il stands, the French and
British have cut through good deal o,
the German second line trenches, more
OF the first, but have made no material
progress against the third. They are
standing before them. they have entere,
them in places. notably north of Bazen.
tn, but have had to retire
Now, 10 compare the present with
past drives, II may be said that this
French have advanced about as far in
mans have penetrated toward verdun
one operation took two weeks, the
other four months, but the penetration
has been on a much narrower front
The French and British have respec.
lively advanced about twice as far a.
they did in their September lighting In
Champagne and Artois =
Something less than $4,000 prisoners
have been taken, which is less than the
French alone captured in Champagne
but the British have taken more thar
they took at Loos The French repor,
their losses to have been surprisif, gly
slight: the British concAds th>v hsyI